Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has return to court for another day as he faces a number of charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution.
The disgraced rapper, 55, was arrested in September and strongly denies all allegations made against him. He has been in prison since his arrest, with a number of bail requests rejected.
Combs’ former partner of 10-years Cassie Ventura will again take to the stand, with the music mogul’s defence team starting their cross-examination.
Subramanian said that the prosecution and defence teams will need to resolve issues surrounding the cross-examination before the questioning gets underway. Meanwhile, defence attorney Anna Estevao believes the cross-examination could stretch into Friday.
On Wednesday, the jury were shown text messages between Combs and Cassie over the years. These included messages about Freak Offs and threats allegedly made by Combs.
Here, we are bringing you the live updates from the courtroom as the trial continues…
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‘I don’t need your money’
A message from 2010 pointed at fractures in the relationship. In an email from April 2010, Cassie expressed disappointment that Combs wasn’t spending time with her.
Cassie reads out emails and messages
The defence has asked Cassie to read out the emails and messages she exchanged with Combs early on in their relationship.
Combs seems relaxed
Past emails and nickname
Estevao has shared emails that Combs and Cassie exchanged in the past.
In 2008, Cassie wrote: “I love you sooo much,” after Combs thanked her for flying to Atlanta to be with him.
In August 2009, Combs told her: “I love you sooooo much it makes me cry.” Cassie replied: “U hungry pop pop?”
Cassie testified that Pop Pop was a nickname she used for Combs, while he sometimes called her Baby Girl.
Defence introduces texts as prosecutors object
Defence lawyer Estevao showed messages said to be between Combs and Cassie in the early years of their relationship.
In one, Combs said: “I’m truly a lucky man.” Cassie replied: “I’m a very lucky woman… Love you so much.”
Cassie’s cross-examination begins
Defence lawyer Estevao has started Cassie’s cross-examination by asking questions about her relationship with Combs.
Cassie takes to the stand
Combs’ family arrives
For the fourth day, Combs’ family members have arrived in court. His mother and children arrived together in a black van.
Judge sets ground rules
Thursday’s court session has started with Judge Arun Subramanian setting ground rules with the lawyers about evidence.
Cassie claims Diddy raped her
On day three, Cassie told the court she went for dinner with Diddy in August 2018, for what she thought was a “closure conversation”.
She was seeing her now-husband at the time and Diddy drover her home. Cassie told the court: “And then he raped me in my living room. I just remember crying and saying ‘no’, but it was very fast.”
She said she wasn’t sure if Diddy knew she was crying. Cassie claims she was voluntarily intimate with Diddy on one other occasion, but said the pair had a “few check-ins” since their relationship ended in 2018.
“Just checking in, sending love, nothing crazy,” she told the court.
Cassie cries on the stand
Yesterday, Cassie burst into tears as she spoke about suicidal feelings when going to rehab for trauma therapy in February 2023.
She told the court that while shooting a music video with another artist, she had flashbacks and was also feeling suicidal.
She said: “I didn’t want to be alive anymore at that point. I couldn’t take the pain that I was in anymore, and so I just tried to walk out the front door into traffic and my husband would not let me.”
Bombshell texts
On Wednesday, the jury were shown text messages between Diddy and Cassie over the years. These included messages about Freak Offs and threats allegedly made by Diddy.
According to allegations Combs texted Ventura in 2019 saying: “If I as you, I would get me my money.”
It’s claimed he wanted to be reimbursed by his ex after she married Alex Fine. Combs had initially hired the personal trainer for Ventura.
The texts are said to have gone on: “YOU WILL NOT BE THREATENING ME,” before he added that Ventura had “too many iPads full of skeletons”.
It’s said Ventura replied: “Do you want me to tell the truth? It’s way deeper than iPads.”
Cassie to be cross-examined
Diddy’s former partner Cassie will be cross-examined today by his defence team.
When will court resume?
Judge Arun Subramanian dismissed the jury on Wednesday.
Source: Mirror
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