Following 4 days of testimony from Cassie Ventura—Sean “Diddy” Combs’ former girlfriend—prosecutors started Monday by questioning Daybreak Richard, a former member of each Danity Kane and Diddy – Soiled Cash, about her relationship with Combs.
Final Friday, Could 16, Richard testified that she witnessed Combs punch, kick and slap Ventura. Throughout her testimony on Monday, Richard stated that Combs tried to strike Ventura with a skillet after which punched and kicked her whereas she lay within the fetal place on the kitchen flooring. She acknowledged that Combs punched Ventura within the face at his New York residence and, on one other event, punched her within the abdomen at a restaurant in Los Angeles.
“He stated you could possibly go lacking, that we may die,” Richard instructed the courtroom. “I used to be shocked but additionally scared, I couldn’t consider this could be the start of a journey for us,” referring to the group Diddy – Soiled Cash
“Ceaselessly, he would punch her, choke her, slap her within the mouth, kick her, punch her within the abdomen,” Richard instructed jurors. “It could possibly be as a result of Cassie was talking up for herself. It could possibly be random. It could possibly be if she had an opinion for herself,” Richard stated. “She can be quiet, and when she had these moments of attempting to stay up for herself, he would damage her for it.”
Richard stated that she and Kalenna Harper, the opposite vocalist in Diddy – Soiled Cash, as soon as wore sun shades alongside Ventura throughout a Central Park look after Combs allegedly gave her a blackeye from a punch. “We wore sun shades to indicate solidarity along with her and have a assist system as a result of she wanted it,” she stated.
She additionally claimed that Combs purposely stalled Ventura’s profession by making her wait to file her album and can be indignant if Richard intervened. “He stated it could be on his phrases. It was at all times wait, wait, wait. She needed to look ahead to her flip, typically it was simply wait your flip, different occasions it was violent or risky,” she stated.
The prosecution additionally questioned Richard about Combs’ alleged drug use. She testified that Combs’ drug seller, named “One Cease,” supplied cocaine and marijuana within the studio, and his assistants would carry a Louis Vuitton full of medication.
When requested by Assistant U.S. Legal professional Mitzi Steiner requested if she anticipated “any compensation to your testimony?” Richard responded, “I’m anticipating justice.”
Nicole Westmoreland, one among Combs’ lawyer’s cross-examined Richard. Westmoreland started scrutinizing Richard’s recollection of the alleged occasions. Though Combs has acknowledged he was bodily abusive to Ventura, he has denied intercourse trafficking her.
Westmorland described Richard’s testimony as a “sequence of false claims” to elicit a “payday”, zeroing in on the inconsistencies of her testimony. “You’ll agree with me that as time progresses, your story modifications,” Westmoreland requested. “Sure,” Richard answered.
Combs’ authorized staff makes an attempt to poke holes in Richard’s testimony about medicine she allegedly noticed in Combs’ possession and weapons he had round, suggesting that her reminiscences solely just lately got here to mild. Westmoreland requested Richard why “she didn’t point out weapons in eight conferences with prosecutors.”
“It wasn’t requested,” Richard replied. “Sure, as time progresses, I get higher at figuring out what went on as a result of it was fairly a very long time in the past,” she continued.
Richard went on to talk about how “traumatizing” being round Combs was and the way recalling the occasions was troublesome. “No, it was a tough time, a foul time for me,” Richard stated. “It didn’t all come again instantly … the setting was traumatizing, so I attempted to erase these issues from my reminiscence.”
After Richard’s testimony was concluded, Kerry Morgan, who was described as Ventura’s finest pal, was referred to as to the stand. On Friday, Ventura testified about their 17 years of friendship.
Morgan was upfront about not desirous to testify. “I don’t wish to testify,” Morgan stated when requested why she was there. “I moved on with my life.” Morgan described that Combs could possibly be “very good” and “beneficiant,” but additionally “could possibly be very aggressive” with temper swings. She additionally testified that Ventura “misplaced her spark” whereas she was with Combs.
She recalled a number of incidents of violence by Combs towards Ventura. “Cassie had gone to the toilet, and after a couple of minutes Sean stated she was taking too lengthy, and he left me, after which I heard her screaming,” Morgan stated. “It was guttural, terrifying. I heard her screaming, so I went to the lengthy hallway, they had been popping out of the main bedroom, and he was dragging her by her hair.”
On one other event, Morgan recalled Combs placing Ventura, and she or he urged his safety guard, Ruben, to “do one thing,” however he refused.
Meredith Foster of the prosecution staff requested Morgan if she had requested Ventura why she stayed with Combs. “I wished her to do what she wished to do, however I instructed her she ought to depart him,” Morgan stated. “And she or he stated she couldn’t, due to her job, her automobile, her residence.”
Marc Agnifilo, cross-examined Morgan, claiming Ventura was jealous of Kim Porter, the mom of three of his kids.
Morgan claimed that Combs was jealous of actor Michael B. Jordan. “What I keep in mind was that she was talking to Michael B. Jordan, they usually frolicked collectively,” Morgan stated. “And he was jealous of it.”
Morgan testified that she hasn’t spoken to Ventura in seven years after she took Combs’ facet after he allegedly hit Morgan with a wood hanger. “The explanation I finished talking to her was that she was not supportive of me after that incident. I draw my line at bodily abuse,” Morgan stated.
Following Morgan’s testimony, the prosecution referred to as David James to the stand. He was a private assistant to Combs from 2007 to 2009 and famous that he’s testifying as a result of he was subpoenaed twice. Overcome with emotion, James tearfully recalled that he was instructed by an government that, “’That is Mr. Combs’ kingdom, and we’re all right here to serve in it.”
He additionally stated that Combs’ safety element employees all carried authorized weapons, together with his bodyguard Uncle Paulie, who carried a switchblade. James stated the safety staff stated for him, “To remain in my lane … I understood it to do what I used to be employed to do and solely that job.”
He additionally testified that one among his interactions with Ventura was about he she was afraid to depart Combs, though she was being abused. “He controls my profession, pays my allowance and pays my hire,” she stated, in accordance with James’ testimony.
James will proceed his testimony on Tuesday, Could 20.