NEW YORK (AP) — On the first day of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial, jurors were immediately shown a video depicting a brutal assault on his long-term girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie.
Throughout the ensuing seven weeks, jurors heard from 34 witnesses, all summoned by the prosecutors. However, defense lawyers engaged each witness to dispute the portrayal of Combs as a violent figure who instilled fear in his employees while pursuing personal vendettas, obtaining drugs, and acting on sexual desires.
While the defense’s cross-examinations frequently exceeded the prosecution’s initial questioning in duration, they only presented an additional 30 minutes of evidence after the prosecution’s case concluded. Combs, appearing relaxed and content, opted not to take the stand.
Closing arguments are anticipated to begin on Thursday and Friday, concluding a trial that has featured videos of drug-induced “freak-offs”, in which Cassie and another ex-girlfriend, “Jane,” claimed Combs compelled them to engage in sexual acts with strangers while he observed.
Jurors also heard testimonies from Cassie and Jane about their abuses, along with statements from personal assistants who witnessed Combs’ violent behavior and other women alleging mistreatment. They were shown text messages, social media exchanges, and travel documentation.
Combs, aged 55, has pleaded not guilty. A conviction could result in a life sentence. The following outlines key events of the trial thus far:
Cassie: ‘I’m not a rag doll’
Cassie, whose real name is Casandra Ventura, dated Combs from 2007 to 2018. She testified that Combs subjected her to beatings and coerced her into “disgusting” sexual acts during extended “freak-offs.” Furthermore, she recounted an incident where he raped her after she expressed her intent to end their relationship.
During the trial, a security camera recorded Combs physically assaulting Cassie in a hotel room in 2016, which was shown to the jurors at the outset. A hotel guard testified that Combs paid $100,000 to conceal the video, which remained unpublicized until CNN aired it in May 2024.
