Cassie and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
Day four of Diddy’s sex trafficking trial has ended. It was the third straight day the court saw Cassie Ventura in the witness box. This time, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ attorneys were cross-examining her and her testimony for the prosecution.
Here’s what’s happened:
Lawyer Anna Estevao asked Ventura about the more loving side of the pair’s time together after Ventura testified over the last two days about alleged violence and abuse.
In court, text messages and emails between Combs and Ventura were shown that appear to show Cassie was enthusiastic about the so-called “freak-off” plans. “Freak-offs” were sexual encounters in which male escorts were paid to have sex with Ventura while Combs watched, directed, and filmed.
Prosecutors have alleged Combs coerced Ventura into participating and blackmailed her with the recordings. Combs’ lawyers hope the messages will help them establish to the jury that the “freak-offs” were consensual.
The court heard about the couple’s topsy-turvy, on-and-off relationship that spanned about 11 years and about drug taking by both Ventura and Combs.
Now we wait to see if Ventura will be on the witness stand beyond Friday. Judge Arun Subramanian signalled his frustration after defence lawyers said Ventura, who is about eight months pregnant, will continue to be cross-examined next week.
The defence has said they will likely need another full day to complete their questions before Ventura is redirected back to prosecutors, who said they will need 30 minutes more to finish questioning her.
Judge Arun Subramanian, who appeared to get irritated at lawyers from both sides at times, asserted to the defence that Ventura needs to be off the stand by the weekend. Prosecutors have said they worry Ventura – who is around eight months pregnant – could give birth at any time, even over the weekend.
Today’s testimony was mostly focused on topics Ventura has already told the court about, with the defence seeking to undermine her previous narrative. The defence presented dozens of messages between Ventura and Sean Combs in an effort to show the R&B singer was a willing participant in the “freak-offs” and sometimes initiated them.
Questioning also focused on drug use by Ventura and Combs, implying Combs’ alleged violence centred around being intoxicated and going through withdrawal, rather than any sex trafficking.
It’s likely the cross-examination will continue for most of the day tomorrow, which would be Cassie’s fourth day on the stand.
Cassie Ventura has been referred to as a “time-sensitive” witness, as she’s about eight months pregnant with her third child.
She’s been holding her stomach at times on the stand, and prosecutors say they’re worried she could even give birth by this weekend.
The judge has insisted the defence wrap up their cross-examination by today so Ventura won’t be needed after the weekend.
The defence has pushed back on this, saying she’s the “most important witness in a very important case”.
