Warning: This story contains details of sexual abuse and domestic violence.

Sean “Diddy” Combs will stand trial on federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges starting on May 5, a US judge has decided.

The date was set during a hearing on Thursday, local time, in New York, the third court appearance for Combs since his September arrest.

During the hearing, a prosecutor argued that the jailed hip-hop mogul’s lawyers were trying to exclude a “damning piece of evidence” by claiming it was leaked by the government.

Assistant US Attorney Emily Johnson struck back against the defence’s claims before Manhattan federal court Judge Arun Subramanian, who will preside over his trial.

Ms Johnson took issue with the defence lawyer’s argument in a submission late on Wednesday that the US Department of Homeland Security leaked a video to the media of Combs punching and kicking former girlfriend Casandra Ventura, an R&B singer known as Cassie, in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016.

Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said the video, aired by CNN in May, and other alleged government leaks, “have led to damaging, highly prejudicial pre-trial publicity that can only taint the jury pool and deprive Mr Combs of his right to a fair trial”.

Ms Johnson called the claim baseless.

Trial will last at least a month before sentencing, court hears

The 54-year-old pleaded not guilty on September 17 to a three-count indictment charging him with using his business empire — including record label Bad Boy Entertainment — to transport women and male sex workers across state lines to take part in recorded sexual performances called “Freak Offs”.

Ms Johnson told the court the prosecution’s case at the trial will last at least three weeks.

His defence case will last about one week, Mr Agnifilo said.

Combs’ mother flew in from Florida for the proceeding, sitting behind him with his children and other family members in the courtroom gallery.

Wearing tan prison garb, Combs stood and blew kisses toward his family members seated in the courtroom’s audience after the hearing ended.

Combs has been jailed at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since his arrest.

The Manhattan-based 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday denied his request to be immediately released while he appeals another judge’s decision to deny him bail.

A three-judge 2nd Circuit panel will hear that appeal at a later date.

The rapper and producer faces a sentence of up to life in prison and a minimum of 15 years if convicted of the three counts he faces: racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.