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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Anthony France

Jay-Z asks court to dismiss lawsuit after rape accuser’s inconsistent story is tested

Jay-Z smiles at Wembley Stadium in June - (AP)

A lawyer for music mogul Jay-Z has asked a court to dismiss a lawsuit accusing him and rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs of raping a 13-year-old girl at an awards show after-party after she admitted inconsistencies in her story.

The Alabama woman, named in the legal action by the pseudonym Jane Doe, has accused the musicians of drugging and attacking her at a New York house.

She claimed to have spoken with musicians Benji Madden and his brother at the party following the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000 and alleged her father picked her up after the alleged sexual assault.

But a representative of the Maddens confirmed to NBC News that they were on tour in the Midwest during the VMAs.

The woman’s father said he doesn’t remember the drive home of more than five hours.

A friend who reportedly drove her to the awards has since died, NBC reported.

Photos from that evening show Jay-Z and Combs at a different location to the one described by the accuser. It is not clear if their whereabouts for the entire night have been accounted for.

She had first sued Combs and then amended the lawsuit on Sunday to include a new allegation that Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter and the husband of singer Beyonce, participated in the sex assault.

Sean Combs, Jay Z and Beyonce in 2005 (Getty Images)

On Saturday, Grammy award winner Jay-Z said in a statement that the article proves Tony Buzbee, a personal injury lawyer in Houston, filed a false complaint against him for money and fame.

“This incident didn’t happen and yet he filed it in court and doubled down in the press,” he said. “True Justice is coming. We fight FROM victory, not FOR victory. This was over before it began. This 1-800 lawyer doesn’t realize it yet, but, soon.”

However, Buzbee told The Associated Press in an email that if someone raises a new issue which didn’t previously exist, her legal team’s job is to continue collecting facts and evidence.

Jay-Z’s attorney, Alex Spiro, asked the court to dismiss the case, saying in a statement, “It is stunning that a lawyer would not only file such a serious complaint without proper vetting, but would make things worse by further peddling this false story in the press.”

US rapper Jay-Z, singer-songwriter Beyonce and their daughter Blue Ivy Carter attend the world premiere of Disney's

The woman admitted to making “some mistakes” when recalling that night, but said she stands by her allegations.

Combs’ attorney, Teny R. Geragos, said in a statement: “Yesterday, a lawyer admitted that over 50 people falsely claimed to be victims. Today, for the second time this week, a Buzbee plaintiff has been exposed. This is the beginning of the end of this shameful money grab.”

The litigation is part of a wave of sexual assault lawsuits levied against Combs as the hip-hop mogul remains in custody in New York awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

Combs was denied bail a third time last month. He has pleaded not guilty to charges he coerced and abused women for years and faces trial in May.

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