NEW YORK — Jurors at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ intercourse trafficking trial have been barely seated on the trial’s first day after they have been proven a video of the hip-hop mogul viciously attacking his longtime girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie.
Over the subsequent seven weeks, jurors heard from 34 witnesses. All have been referred to as to the stand by prosecutors, however every was questioned by protection attorneys as they tried to problem the portrayal of Combs as an out-of-control, violent boss who drove his staff and associates to concern him as he demanded their assist in finishing up vendettas, getting medication and fulfilling his sexual fantasies.
After cross-examinations that usually lasted longer than the questions posed by prosecutors, protection attorneys spent solely a half hour extra presenting proof as soon as prosecutors completed their aspect of the case. A relaxed and seemingly happy Combs himself confirmed he wouldn’t testify.
Now, jurors are set to listen to closing arguments Thursday and Friday within the closing phases of a trial during which they’ve watched movies of drug-fueled “freak-offs” and “lodge nights” the place Cassie and one other ex-girlfriend, “Jane,” mentioned Combs pressured them to have intercourse with strangers as he watched.
In addition they have heard testimony from Cassie and Jane, from private assistants who mentioned they witnessed Combs’ violence and from different girls who additionally accused him of abuse. They noticed textual content and social media messages and journey information.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not responsible. If convicted, he may spend the remainder of his life in jail.
Here is how the trial has performed out thus far:
Cassie, whose actual identify is Casandra Ventura, dated Combs from 2007 to 2018 after he signed her to his Unhealthy Boy Data label.
Over 4 days, she informed jurors Combs beat her and ordered her to have “disgusting” intercourse with male intercourse employees throughout multi-day “freak-offs,” his time period for sexual marathons. She additionally mentioned Combs raped her after she mentioned she was ending their relationship.
In 2016, safety cameras captured Combs hitting, kicking and dragging Cassie as she left his room on the Intercontinental Lodge in Los Angeles. The video was proven on the trial’s begin. A lodge guard testified that Combs paid $100,000 to cover the video. It remained secret till CNN aired it in Could 2024.
After the assault, Cassie texted Combs: “I’m not a rag doll. I’m someone’s baby.”
Cassie first detailed her allegations in a lawsuit towards Combs in 2023. He settled the subsequent day for $20 million.
Jane, testifying beneath a pseudonym, dated Combs from 2021 till his arrest final September.
The mannequin mentioned she repeatedly informed Combs she didn’t need to have intercourse with different males — pleading with him, “I’m not an animal. I want a break” — however that he stored pressuring her. She mentioned she felt “obligated” partly as a result of he paid her lease.
Jane mentioned she tried to finish the encounters, texting him in 2023: “Ever since I opened Pandora’s field, I haven’t been in a position to shut it.” He responded: “Lady, cease.” One other time, she informed him: “You beat the love out of us.”
Final 12 months, Jane mentioned, Combs put her in a chokehold, punched her within the face and compelled her into an encounter with a intercourse employee. She mentioned he informed her: “You’re not going to destroy my night time like this.”
Each girls mentioned Combs threatened to launch their intercourse movies in the event that they refused his calls for.
Rapper Child Cudi testified that Combs broke into his dwelling in late 2011 after studying he and Cassie have been relationship. His automobile was firebombed a number of weeks later. Cudi, whose authorized identify is Scott Mescudi, mentioned he knew Combs “had one thing to do” with it, however Combs informed him he wasn’t concerned.
Ex-Combs worker Capricorn Clark mentioned Combs got here to her dwelling waving a gun the day of the break-in and demanded she dress and go together with him as a result of “we’re going to kill Cudi.”
A former private assistant testifying beneath the pseudonym “Mia” mentioned Combs put his hand up her costume and forcibly kissed her at his fortieth party in 2009, pressured her to carry out oral intercourse on one other event and raped her in 2010. His attorneys say the claims are false.
Cassie’s pal Bryana “Bana” Bongolan testified that Combs dangled her over the railing of Cassie’s seventeenth ground balcony and threw her onto patio furnishings in September 2016, leaving her bruised and traumatized.
Six of Combs’ former private assistants testified.
George Kaplan mentioned he’d toss out liquor bottles and medicines and clear up child oil from Combs’ lodge rooms. He mentioned he stop after seeing Combs preventing with Cassie however did not report it to authorities.
David James testified that Combs had him inventory lodge rooms with child oil, condoms, Viagra and different provides. James mentioned he noticed Combs with three handguns on his lap as they drove to confront Combs’ document trade rival Suge Knight in 2008.
Brendan Paul mentioned he purchased medication for Combs together with cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy and marijuana.
Federal brokers testified that they discovered “freak-off” provides throughout raids final 12 months on Combs’ Los Angeles and Miami-area properties and within the New York Metropolis lodge room the place he was arrested. They mentioned in addition they discovered AR-15 rifles, different weapons and ammunition at Combs’ properties.
Combs is charged with racketeering conspiracy, two counts of intercourse trafficking — one for Cassie, one for Jane — and two counts of transportation to interact in prostitution.
His protection case lasted all of half-hour. Combs waived his proper to testify, as defendants typically do, and his attorneys did not name witnesses of their very own. As an alternative, they sought to undercut the credibility of his accusers via cross-examination.
They seized on inconsistencies in witness accounts, highlighted accusers’ willingness to proceed seeing him and heat messages they exchanged with him after alleged abuse. In addition they accused girls of attempting to money in on “the #MeToo cash seize towards Sean Combs.”
It wasn’t all unhealthy for Combs. Jane acknowledged that regardless of every part she endured she nonetheless loves Combs. Different prosecution witnesses showered him with reward.
Kaplan mentioned he nonetheless sends Combs birthday greetings and invited him to his wedding ceremony. Kaplan informed jurors he was grateful to work for Combs and nonetheless has “quite a lot of respect” for him.
Combs’ attorneys confronted celeb stylist Deonte Nash with messages he despatched expressing love for Combs. A few of them have been from 2019 and 2020, two years after their skilled relationship ended.
Initially, prosecutors constructed their case round 4 principal witnesses: Cassie, Jane, Mia and Gina, a former Combs girlfriend who was referred to in his charging paperwork as “Sufferer-3.”
However Gina, who dated Combs from 2014 to 2019, was quietly dropped from the case and by no means testified. Nonetheless, she figured prominently within the trial.
Cassie famous she was actually upset when she came upon Combs was dishonest with Gina. Kaplan mentioned he as soon as noticed Combs hurling apples at Gina.
Others from Combs’ orbit who have been talked about however not seen in courtroom included his former chief of workers, a bodyguard and different members of his safety workers.
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