U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian ruled Friday against Combs' defense team's request to push back the start of his federal trial. At a roughly two-hour hearing April 18, Combs was seen smiling and waving to a few people as he exited the courtroom, including his mother, after a more emotionally subdued hearing than a previous one in March .

At least three of Combs' alleged victims opposed the delay, prosecutors said, and the judge ruled the proceeding will begin as scheduled on May 5.