Disgraced rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has faced claims he forced his former girlfriend Cassie to perform sex acts with escorts as his highly anticipated trial begins
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ highly anticipated trial has started in New York City as the disgraced rapper is accused of a number of serious charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution.
He has denied all allegations against him since he was charged. Opening statements were read out in court on Monday as the trial begins.
The trial’s witnesses appeared as professional stripper Daniel Phillip told the court Combs’ former partner Cassie, real name Casandra Ventura, asked him to meet them at a Manhattan hotel.
He said he was paid several thousand dollars to have sex with Cassie while Combs watched and gave instructions. Daniel claimed he had several other trysts with the couple that lasted between one hour to 10 hours.
Lawyers for Combs said prosecutors are wrongly trying to make a crime out of a party-loving lifestyle that may have been indulgent, but not illegal.
Prosecutors told the court that Combs coerced women into drugged-up group sexual encounters he called “freak-offs,” “wild king nights” or “hotel nights”. They say he kept them in line by choking, hitting, kicking and dragging them, often by the hair.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson said Cassie was far from the only woman Combs beat and sexually exploited. The prosecutor said last year, Combs brutally beat another woman identified as Jane.
She had confronted him about the Freak Offs, which prosecutors say are central to Combs’ sexual abuse. Johnson said Combs’ company paid for the parties and his employees staged the rooms with his preferred lighting, extra linens and lubricant.
Prosecutors said he compelled women, including Cassie, to take drugs and engage in sexual activity with male escorts. Combs would beat Cassie for example when she left a freak-off without his permission or took too long in the bathroom, Johnson said.
The court heard how he threatened to ruin Cassie’s singing career by publicly releasing videos of her sexually involved with male escorts. “Her livelihood depended on keeping him happy,” Johnson said.
Cassie sued Combs in 2023 with the lawsuit settled within hours. However, it sparked a law enforcement investigation that resulted in the charges against him.
Combs’ lawyer Teny Geragos claimed his accusers were motivated by money. In court, Geragos said Cassie demanded $30 million and another witness demanded $22 million in a breach of contract lawsuit.
She said Combs is extremely jealous and “has a bad temper”. Geragos told the jury that he lashed out when he drank alcohol or “did the wrong drugs.” She said: “Domestic violence is not sex trafficking.”
If you’ve been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999
Source: Mirror
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