Sean “Diddy” Combs’ intercourse trafficking and racketeering trial continues Monday in New York Metropolis. His ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura wrapped up her testimony Friday after 4 days on the stand.
The hip-hop mogul is accused of working a legal enterprise since a minimum of 2004 that manipulated ladies into taking part in industrial intercourse acts with him, and generally male intercourse employees, throughout what prosecutors described as drug-fueled events referred to as “freak offs.”
Combs has been jailed on the Metropolitan Detention Middle Brooklyn since his arrest final September. He faces 5 counts from 4 completely different ladies, together with Ventura.
Up to now, jurors heard from a former safety supervisor on the Los Angeles lodge the place Combs was seen on a now notorious video attacking Ventura in 2016, together with a person who says he was employed to have intercourse with Ventura whereas Combs watched, and Ventura herself.
On Friday, additionally they heard from a particular agent who photographed the lodge the place Combs was arrested final 12 months, and from Danity Kane singer Daybreak Richard, who testified about seeing Combs assault Ventura.
Here is what to know in regards to the costs and key names within the case.
Who’s Cassie Ventura? Lodge video a key piece of proof
Ventura, who performs below the title Cassie, rose to fame with the one “Me & U” on her self-titled debut album. The track landed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Sizzling R&B/Hip-Hop chart in 2006.
In her testimony, she mentioned she signed with Unhealthy Boy Information when she was 19, and Combs first kissed her on her twenty first birthday. She and Combs dated off-and-on for greater than 10 years, from about 2007 to 2018.
She mentioned she recorded lots of of songs as a part of a 10-album deal, however most have been by no means launched. She testified Combs turned controlling and violent, and the “freak offs” turned her job.
Ventura spoke about years of alleged psychological and bodily abuse. She additionally mentioned Wednesday that he raped her after they’d damaged up in 2018.
The safety video of Combs attacking Ventura within the hallway of the InterContinental lodge is a key piece of proof in his trial. The video, obtained and revealed by CNN final 12 months, reveals Combs throw her onto the ground earlier than kicking and dragging her.
Prosecutors allege the lodge assault occurred throughout a “freak off,” however Combs’ attorneys, who sought to have the video excluded from trial, argue it was a “glimpse into a posh however decade-long consensual relationship.”
Ventura filed a federal lawsuit towards Combs in 2023, accusing him of rape and bodily abuse. The go well with additionally mentioned Combs paid the lodge $50,000 for the footage.
“After years in silence and darkness, I’m lastly prepared to inform my story, and to talk up on behalf of myself and for the advantage of different ladies who face violence and abuse of their relationships,” Ventura mentioned in a press release to CBS Information on the time. “With the expiration of New York’s Grownup Survivors Act quick approaching, it turned clear that this was a possibility to talk up in regards to the trauma I’ve skilled and that I can be recovering from for the remainder of my life.”
Combs later apologized for the conduct seen on the video, however denied the allegations within the lawsuit. In a social media put up that has since been eliminated, he mentioned he was “f—ed up” and “hit all-time low.”
“I take full accountability for my actions in that video,” he mentioned. “I used to be disgusted then once I did it. I am disgusted now. I went and I sought out skilled assist. I bought into going to remedy, going to rehab. I needed to ask God for his mercy and beauty. I am so sorry. However I am dedicated to be a greater man each day. I am not asking for forgiveness. I am really sorry.”
In the future after the go well with was filed, a settlement was introduced. Whereas the main points weren’t disclosed, Ventura mentioned in a press release, “I’ve determined to resolve this matter amicably on phrases that I’ve some stage of management.”
Combs’ protection attorneys mentioned of their opening statements that he and Ventura hadn’t seen one another since his ex, Kim Porter’s, funeral in 2018.
Ventura is now married and pregnant together with her third little one. Her husband and brother have been each seen in courtroom for assist.
Who’re Diddy’s different accusers?
Since 2023, dozens of men and women have filed lawsuits towards Combs alleging sexual and bodily abuse.
Lots of the accusers mentioned they have been drugged after which abused whereas incapacitated, and a few claimed different celebrities have been current or participated within the abuse.
Nonetheless, the majority of these allegations usually are not a part of the legal case. Prosecutors have chosen to concentrate on allegations the place there’s bodily proof or witness corroboration.
The opposite three ladies concerned within the trial haven’t been publicly named and they’re anticipated to testify utilizing pseudonyms. The indictment refers to them as Sufferer-1, Sufferer-2 and Sufferer-3.
Jurors are anticipated to listen to from one lady who the protection says had a three-year relationship with Combs that additionally turned jealous and violent, in addition to former workers and an assistant.
Combs has denied the entire allegations by his attorneys, who described the ladies as “former long-term girlfriends, who have been concerned in consensual relationships.”
Different high-profile names within the Sean Combs case
Potential jurors have been requested in the event that they have been accustomed to a listing of some 190 celebrities, together with Michael B. Jordan, Kanye West and Mike Myers, although it wasn’t clear how these individuals are associated to the trial, if in any respect. Ventura testified about relationship Jordan, in addition to Child Cudi.
The decide overseeing the case is U.S. District Decide Arun Subramanian, a Columbia Legislation College graduate and former clerk for the late Supreme Courtroom Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. President Joe Biden appointed Subramanian as a federal decide in 2022.
The prosecution crew is made up of eight assistant U.S. attorneys, seven of them ladies. They embrace Maurene Ryan Comey, daughter of former FBI Director James Comey. She was one of many prosecutors within the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of conspiring Jeffrey Epstein to recruit and sexually abuse teenage women.
Combs’ protection crew is led by New York lawyer Marc Agnifilo, who alongside along with his spouse Karen Friedman Agnifilo can also be defending Luigi Mangione within the homicide of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Additionally on the seven-person protection crew is Atlanta lawyer Brian Metal, who represented Younger Thug in a trial that lasted practically two years earlier than the rapper pleaded responsible to gang, drug and gun costs.
Are you able to watch the Diddy trial stay?
Per federal courtroom guidelines, images and movies from inside courtroom usually are not allowed. Courtroom sketches, nevertheless, are permitted.
The extremely anticipated trial is anticipated to final eight to 10 weeks. CBS Information New York’s Alice Gainer can be on the courthouse at some stage in trial and supply real-time updates.
contributed to this report.
