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Sean 'Puffy' Combs' Driver Testifies in Trial Today

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DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: This is a critical day in the gun- possession trial of rapper Sean "Puffy" Combs. The driver of the Lincoln navigator carrying Combs and his former girlfriend Jennifer Lopez on the night in question testifies today.

CNN's Michael Okwu is covering the trial and joins us live from New York.

Michael, good morning.

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

That's right, Wardell Fenderson, Combs' driver on that fateful night, is expected to testify on several allegations: one, that Combs definitely had a gun when entered the nightclub that night; two, that Combs instructed him to try to elude police who were in hot pursuit of the Lincoln navigator; and three, that after they were all arrested, Combs offered his $50,000 to claim possession or ownership of a gun that was found in the Lincoln navigator that night.

Now, the prosecution has been presenting its case. They've been doing that now for into its third week. And they called on several victims. One victim said that he saw Combs' entourage and a group of other club goers get involved in a fracas after one of those club goers threw a wad of cash into Combs' face. A second victim, a Natanya Ruben (ph), said that she saw Combs' brandish a gun and actually fire it right before she was hit in the face with a bullet. Now that's important because defense attorneys say that Combs never even had a gun on him.

And there's been a lot of colorful moments in the past few weeks. As you know, Combs left the scene with his driver, his bodyguard, and Jennifer Lopez. One of the arresting officers that night testified last week that once they found the car, removed the gun, Jennifer Lopez tried to actually leave the scene. He said that he screamed Jennifer, Jennifer, and she shouted back at him I'm going home, I'm going home -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Boy, and Michael, I guess the big news about Jennifer Lopez and Sean "Puffy" Combs is that they are now officially no more.

OKWU: That is true. In fact, if you'd been watching Combs during the course of this trial, there were a lot of rumors that, in fact, the relationship was over before then. They denied it for a good part of the time.

Combs has been coming into trial every day now in a rather conservative dress: very dark suits without any of his trademark jewelry. Some people might call him somber, some people might say he's been calm, if not confident. He makes very little eye contact with the jury box, only occasionally peering into the back of the jury room presumably to catch contact with his mother, who occasionally comes in to bring him sandwiches.

But it's been a bad week, as you mention. His publicist yesterday announced that, in fact, his high-profile marriage with -- or I should say his relationship with Jennifer Lopez -- is, in fact, over. And of course, he faces the prospect of 15 years behind bars, if he's convicted of these charges -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Michael Okwu, in New York City -- thank you very much.

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