Cassie Ventura is testifying at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ intercourse trafficking trial. Listed here are some key moments.

As federal prosecutors referred to as witnesses to the stand in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal trial, his ex-girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie Ventura, continued her testimony Wednesday contained in the New York Metropolis courthouse because the trial entered its second day. 

Ventura is a essential witness within the prosecution’s case in opposition to Combs, who has been accused of sexually assaulting, trafficking and exploiting girls for many years till his arrest on a number of expenses final September. Combs has pleaded not responsible to the fees. The music mogul may obtain a lifetime jail sentence if convicted on all of them.

Ventura’s testimony will doubtless final the remainder of the week. Listed here are some key takeaways from it to this point.

Violence occurred “regularly”

In her preliminary statements earlier than the courtroom, Ventura, now pregnant along with her third youngster and married to private coach Alex Advantageous, recalled her and Combs’ early interactions and the way she began to see a special facet of him over time. She mentioned she met Combs when she was a newly signed singer at 19, and their burgeoning friendship grew to become romantic two years later.

She additionally described his alleged violence all through their 10-year on-off relationship, recounting situations the place he knocked her over, kicked and dragged her, and stomped on her head, inflicting black eyes and bruises on her physique. When requested, Ventura mentioned the abuse she endured occurred “regularly.”

Combs is seen attacking Ventura in video footage CNN obtained and revealed final 12 months, which reveals him throwing her to the ground, kicking and dragging her within the hallway of a Los Angeles lodge.

“Management was all the pieces”

Ventura characterised Combs as bodily and psychologically abusive all through the primary hours of her testimony.

“Management was all the pieces — from the best way that I appeared, to what I used to be engaged on that day, who I used to be chatting with,” she mentioned. “Management was an all-around factor to a sure level.”

Combs allegedly launched Ventura to “freak offs,” drug-fueled occasions the place he’s accused of forcing girls to carry out intercourse acts with employed intercourse staff, which have been a spotlight of the indictment outlining his alleged crimes. 

Ventura mentioned Combs broached the concept of sexual encounters involving voyeurism through the first 12 months of their relationship, and he would rent an escort or dancer with whom he would watch her interact whereas he directed them. The singer testified she felt confused and nervous, “however I additionally cherished him very a lot and wished to make him completely satisfied.”

She testified she nervous about making Combs offended due to how a lot management he had over her life and profession, and the chance that he may blackmail her by releasing pictures of the “freak offs.” Prosecutors alleged in courtroom paperwork that Combs usually recorded these performances with or with out contributors’ consent.

A shift within the relationship

Ventura recalled Combs searching for her when she first met him. They fell in love, she mentioned, whereas spending time collectively within the studio or touring elsewhere.

“I believe I used to be simply enamored by him. We have been simply having a great time. It was actually enjoyable at this level,” she instructed the courtroom. However as her look, transportation, hire and total way of life got here underneath Combs’ management, Ventura mentioned her music profession — and report deal — finally took a backseat to the alleged “freak offs,” which left her feeling humiliated.

She testified that regardless of recording tons of of songs and 9 albums whereas she was with Combs, the work was by no means launched as a result of “freak offs” grew to become her job. They took up an excessive amount of time and power to go away room for different pursuits, Ventura mentioned, including that she would look ahead to a number of days at a time to occasion, drink and have intercourse with strangers. 

The “freak offs” may final from 36 to 72 hours at a time, she mentioned, with the longest persevering with for 4 days. She recalled them taking place nearly weekly for years.

Ventura felt “disgusted” and “humiliated” by “freak offs”

Ventura started to cry throughout her testimony when requested whether or not she wished to take part in each “freak off.” She mentioned she did not and that she felt “disgusted” and “humiliated” by them, however she additionally did not need to disappoint Combs. 

Ventura instructed the courtroom Combs dismissed her when she expressed how she felt about them, calling her predictable for not wanting to interact.

Testifying at size concerning the “freak offs,” Ventura mentioned Combs supplied ecstasy and cocaine, which she took to remain awake through the incidents.

2016 lodge incident 

Ventura recalled the 2016 lodge altercation seen on video footage. After being proven a clip from the incident through the second day of her testimony, she recounted that Combs was yelling and threw one thing at her through the assault.  

She mentioned she instructed Combs through textual content message she had a black eye from the incident and reminded him of a premiere she was imagined to attend. 

“You might be sick for considering it is OK to do what you have achieved,” she wrote in a textual content to Combs. “Please keep far-off from me.”

Ventura instructed the courtroom she wore sun shades to cowl her eyes and used make-up to cover bruises on different elements of her physique when she attended the premiere. 

Prosecutors confirmed a number of pictures of Ventura on the premiere occasion and after occasion, the place the accidents may very well be seen.

Drug use

Combs allegedly supplied stimulant medicine, like cocaine, to maintain contributors awake for the size of his “freak offs,”
Ventura mentioned. She additionally testified a couple of time when she requested ketamine, an anesthetic that has been used recreationally for its hallucinogenic and dissociative results. 

Prosecutors allege Combs’ “freak offs” concerned extreme drug use, “partially to maintain the victims obedient and compliant,” and accuse him of utilizing substances partially to train management over the folks he focused. 

She mentioned Combs did not just like the drug and argued a profitable “freak off” may be remembered, however defined ketamine was her desire as a result of it allowed her to be much less current within the second.

Alice Gainer

contributed to this report.