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| Cassie Ventura describes alleged abuse by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in sex-trafficking trial: ‘I would be hit in the face’ | Cassie Ventura describes alleged abuse by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in sex-trafficking trial: ‘I would be hit in the face’ |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Singer says on the stand there were ‘violent arguments’ and ‘dragging’ in former relationship with the hip-hop mogul | Singer says on the stand there were ‘violent arguments’ and ‘dragging’ in former relationship with the hip-hop mogul |
| Singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, a former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs and central character in the case against him, took the stand on Tuesday as the high-profile federal trial of Combs entered its second day in lower Manhattan. | Singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, a former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs and central character in the case against him, took the stand on Tuesday as the high-profile federal trial of Combs entered its second day in lower Manhattan. |
| She is expected to testify against her former partner for several days. | She is expected to testify against her former partner for several days. |
| Testifying while eight and a half months pregnant, Ventura was initially asked to describe her relationship with Combs: “There were violent arguments that would usually result in some sort of physical abuse. Dragging, different things of that nature.” | Testifying while eight and a half months pregnant, Ventura was initially asked to describe her relationship with Combs: “There were violent arguments that would usually result in some sort of physical abuse. Dragging, different things of that nature.” |
| When asked how often Combs was violent with her during their relationship, Ventura responded: “too frequently”. | When asked how often Combs was violent with her during their relationship, Ventura responded: “too frequently”. |
| Throughout her testimony, Ventura teared up or took deep breaths, dabbing her eyes with a tissue. | Throughout her testimony, Ventura teared up or took deep breaths, dabbing her eyes with a tissue. |
| Early in her testimony, which began around 11am, Ventura was asked to describe Combs’s “freak-offs”. | Early in her testimony, which began around 11am, Ventura was asked to describe Combs’s “freak-offs”. |
| “It basically entails the hiring of an escort and setting up this experience so that I could perform for Sean,” she said, adding that it allowed Combs “to watch me with the other person and actually direct us on what we were doing. Eventually it became a job for me, pretty much.” | “It basically entails the hiring of an escort and setting up this experience so that I could perform for Sean,” she said, adding that it allowed Combs “to watch me with the other person and actually direct us on what we were doing. Eventually it became a job for me, pretty much.” |
| Ventura emphasized that she felt a “responsibility” to make Combs happy. | Ventura emphasized that she felt a “responsibility” to make Combs happy. |
| Combs preferred Ventura to groom herself a specific way – specifically, he wanted her have her nails painted white, her hair combed a certain way, and even suggested she get breast implants. | Combs preferred Ventura to groom herself a specific way – specifically, he wanted her have her nails painted white, her hair combed a certain way, and even suggested she get breast implants. |
| Combs and his team would also periodically take away her laptop or phone. “It depended on how long I was being punished for,” she said. | Combs and his team would also periodically take away her laptop or phone. “It depended on how long I was being punished for,” she said. |
| Over time, she said, “freak-offs” were not something she wanted to do as they made her feel “horrible” and “worthless”, and could last two to three days sometimes – with no sleep. Still, she told the court “I was in love and wanted to make him happy” and “I didn’t know what no could turn into.” | Over time, she said, “freak-offs” were not something she wanted to do as they made her feel “horrible” and “worthless”, and could last two to three days sometimes – with no sleep. Still, she told the court “I was in love and wanted to make him happy” and “I didn’t know what no could turn into.” |
| Of how Combs would get during “freak-offs,” Ventura said: “His eyes go black – the version of him I was in love with was no longer there.” | Of how Combs would get during “freak-offs,” Ventura said: “His eyes go black – the version of him I was in love with was no longer there.” |
| Ventura said that she was expected to take part in the “freak-offs” even while menstruating and that Combs would sometimes direct someone to urinate on her, resulting in bedsheets during these encounters covered in blood and/or urine. She said she didn’t want that to happen, but “you don’t have a lot of control at that moment”. | |
| “I just felt humiliated, it was disgusting, it was too much,” she said. “I choked, I didn’t want to be doing that, I was in a position I couldn’t easily get out of. I eventually put my hands up and Sean saw and told him to stop. I was choking, too much urine in my mouth. Sean urinated on me at the same time.” | |
| She recalled her first meeting with Combs, in 2005, when she was 19. | She recalled her first meeting with Combs, in 2005, when she was 19. |
| “I just knew that he was this larger-than-life entrepreneur, musician. Was a fan of the music. I didn’t know too much about him personally,” she said, adding that she went on to sign a 10-album deal with Combs’s record label. | “I just knew that he was this larger-than-life entrepreneur, musician. Was a fan of the music. I didn’t know too much about him personally,” she said, adding that she went on to sign a 10-album deal with Combs’s record label. |
| Ventura later released her debut album in 2006, but it would be the only one she ever put out on Combs’s label. | Ventura later released her debut album in 2006, but it would be the only one she ever put out on Combs’s label. |
| Of how her relationship with Combs developed, Ventura explained how he kissed her on her 21st birthday in Las Vegas and that the incident made her uncomfortable and that she felt “confused”. From there, despite their 17-year age gap, they began to see each other more frequently and “started to develop a comfortable relationship with each other”. | Of how her relationship with Combs developed, Ventura explained how he kissed her on her 21st birthday in Las Vegas and that the incident made her uncomfortable and that she felt “confused”. From there, despite their 17-year age gap, they began to see each other more frequently and “started to develop a comfortable relationship with each other”. |
| After the pair started dating, which Ventura said “was not public for many years” as Combs was still in a relationship with longtime partner Kim Porter, Ventura described the world Combs lived in as “much different” than her own. | After the pair started dating, which Ventura said “was not public for many years” as Combs was still in a relationship with longtime partner Kim Porter, Ventura described the world Combs lived in as “much different” than her own. |
| “He had assistants at his beck and call. He could get anything done quickly. He had respect from everyone and he traveled quite a bit,” she said. | “He had assistants at his beck and call. He could get anything done quickly. He had respect from everyone and he traveled quite a bit,” she said. |
| Ventura depicted Combs’s tempestuous moods and the resulting violence he would inflict on her if she didn’t act a certain way. She said she never knew if he would show up at her home in Los Angeles happy or yelling, prompting her to have constant “stomach-in-knots” moments. | Ventura depicted Combs’s tempestuous moods and the resulting violence he would inflict on her if she didn’t act a certain way. She said she never knew if he would show up at her home in Los Angeles happy or yelling, prompting her to have constant “stomach-in-knots” moments. |
| “Make the wrong face and the next thing I knew I would get hit in the face,” she said. “He would say, ‘Watch your mouth.’” | “Make the wrong face and the next thing I knew I would get hit in the face,” she said. “He would say, ‘Watch your mouth.’” |
| During their relationship, Ventura said Combs “controlled a lot of my life” including her career, how she dressed, and who she spoke to. She described Combs to the court as a “polarizing person”, and that she fell in love with him and began to travel with him everywhere. | During their relationship, Ventura said Combs “controlled a lot of my life” including her career, how she dressed, and who she spoke to. She described Combs to the court as a “polarizing person”, and that she fell in love with him and began to travel with him everywhere. |
| Over time, she said, she began to experience his “abusive side” and his “controlling side” adding that his mood would vary day to day, which affected her “greatly”. | Over time, she said, she began to experience his “abusive side” and his “controlling side” adding that his mood would vary day to day, which affected her “greatly”. |
| Ventura recalled that Combs had guns in safes in his multiple homes, which alarmed her. She cited one particular incident during which Combs made her carry one of the guns, something he did on multiple occasions, which “terrified” her. | Ventura recalled that Combs had guns in safes in his multiple homes, which alarmed her. She cited one particular incident during which Combs made her carry one of the guns, something he did on multiple occasions, which “terrified” her. |
| That incident involved Combs pursuing his longtime rival Suge Knight: “We were having a freak-off in one of his homes in LA and he said Suge was at Mel’s Diner and we packed up and drove down there,” Ventura said. | That incident involved Combs pursuing his longtime rival Suge Knight: “We were having a freak-off in one of his homes in LA and he said Suge was at Mel’s Diner and we packed up and drove down there,” Ventura said. |
| “I was screaming and crying, ‘Please don’t do anything stupid.’ I didn’t know what they were going to do.” | “I was screaming and crying, ‘Please don’t do anything stupid.’ I didn’t know what they were going to do.” |
| Combs, who was arrested last September, faces charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty and denied all allegations. | Combs, who was arrested last September, faces charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty and denied all allegations. |
| Daniel Phillip, the second witness called on Monday and a former manager of a “male revue show”, was back on the stand on Tuesday morning to finish his testimony and cross examination. | Daniel Phillip, the second witness called on Monday and a former manager of a “male revue show”, was back on the stand on Tuesday morning to finish his testimony and cross examination. |
| On Tuesday, Combs’s lawyer Xavier Donaldson asked Phillip if Ventura “was in complete control of everything she did” with Combs. | On Tuesday, Combs’s lawyer Xavier Donaldson asked Phillip if Ventura “was in complete control of everything she did” with Combs. |
| “I cannot say that,” Phillip said. | “I cannot say that,” Phillip said. |
| Phillip later testified about Ventura’s drug use and noted its infrequency during their encounters. He also revealed that he had bigger feelings for her: “Had she ever given me the chance to date her, I absolutely would have.” | Phillip later testified about Ventura’s drug use and noted its infrequency during their encounters. He also revealed that he had bigger feelings for her: “Had she ever given me the chance to date her, I absolutely would have.” |
| On Monday, a jury of eight men and four women heard opening statements, and testimony from the first two witnesses called to the stand by the government. | On Monday, a jury of eight men and four women heard opening statements, and testimony from the first two witnesses called to the stand by the government. |
| Prosecutors allege that Combs ran a “criminal enterprise” through his business empire, aided by associates and employees, that engaged in crimes such as sex trafficking, kidnapping, arson, bribery, enticement to engage in prostitution and obstruction of justice – allegedly dating back to at least 2004. | Prosecutors allege that Combs ran a “criminal enterprise” through his business empire, aided by associates and employees, that engaged in crimes such as sex trafficking, kidnapping, arson, bribery, enticement to engage in prostitution and obstruction of justice – allegedly dating back to at least 2004. |
| Combs’s defense attorneys acknowledged that Combs perpetrated domestic violence in the past, but denied any involvement in sex trafficking or a racketeering conspiracy, and portrayed any group sex as consensual, describing it as part of a “swinger’s lifestyle”. | Combs’s defense attorneys acknowledged that Combs perpetrated domestic violence in the past, but denied any involvement in sex trafficking or a racketeering conspiracy, and portrayed any group sex as consensual, describing it as part of a “swinger’s lifestyle”. |
| Following opening statements, the prosecution called two witnesses on Monday, including Phillip and Los Angeles police officer, Israel Florez, who was working as a security guard at the InterContinental hotel in March 2016 when Combs was caught on surveillance video assaulting his then girlfriend, Ventura. | Following opening statements, the prosecution called two witnesses on Monday, including Phillip and Los Angeles police officer, Israel Florez, who was working as a security guard at the InterContinental hotel in March 2016 when Combs was caught on surveillance video assaulting his then girlfriend, Ventura. |
| On Tuesday, Combs’s children and other family members were seen outside the courtroom praying in a circle with their heads bowed. | On Tuesday, Combs’s children and other family members were seen outside the courtroom praying in a circle with their heads bowed. |
| In accordance with federal court rules, the trial is not being televised. If convicted, Combs, who has been jailed since his arrest last year, could spend the rest of his life in prison. | In accordance with federal court rules, the trial is not being televised. If convicted, Combs, who has been jailed since his arrest last year, could spend the rest of his life in prison. |
| Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organizations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html | Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organizations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html |