Week 4 of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal intercourse trafficking and racketeering trial closed with a string of damning testimony, mounting strain on the protection, and a pointy warning from the choose about courtroom conduct. The prosecution continued constructing its case round allegations of violence, coercion and arranged abuse—with testimony from former workers, associates and an ex-girlfriend portray a chilling portrait of Combs’ non-public world. Listed below are some key developments that passed off in courtroom.
“Jane” Describes a Lifetime of Coerced “Freak-Offs”
A girl known as “Jane,” who recognized herself as a former girlfriend of Combs, testified that he used monetary dependence to coerce her into drug-fueled “freak-offs” with male escorts. She described a relationship the place sexual encounters with different males, typically noticed by Combs, grew to become routine and non-consensual.
“I felt obligated to carry out these nights with different males,” she stated, claiming Combs threatened to cease paying her hire if she refused. Her testimony mirrored earlier accounts by Cassie Ventura, strengthening the prosecution’s sample of habits argument.
Alleged Resort Bribe: $100K in a Brown Bag
Former Los Angeles InterContinental Resort safety guard Eddy Garcia testified that Combs paid him $100,000 in money to cowl up a 2016 assault on Cassie Ventura, caught on lodge safety footage. Garcia stated Combs feared the footage would “smash” him and demanded secrecy by way of an NDA with a $1 million penalty.
Bryana “Bana” Bongolan Returns to the Stand
Bryana “Bana” Bongolan continued her testimony from final week, alleging that Combs dangled her over a Seventeenth-floor balcony in 2016 and threw her onto balcony furnishings. “I’m the satan, and I might kill you,” Combs allegedly instructed Bongolan.
When requested if she had any doubt, it was Combs who held her on a balcony. “I’ve little doubt,” Bongolan stated. “I’ll always remember him holding me on that balcony.” Throughout cross-examination, the protection challenged Bongolan’s recollection of the timeline and the consistency of her statements. They identified that she at the moment has a pending lawsuit towards Combs. Bongolan testified that the alleged incident left her terrified.
Choose Rebukes Combs for Jury Intimidation
Choose Arun Subramanian warned Combs towards attempting to sway the jury together with his habits. After observing Combs “nodding vigorously” at jurors throughout cross-examination, the choose instructed protection counsel, “That’s completely unacceptable.”
Protection Pushes Again
Combs’ protection staff has tried to poke holes within the testimony of every witness, questioning their continued relationships with Combs and pointing to monetary motives, together with ongoing lawsuits.
Testimony from Former Unhealthy Boy CFO
Derek Ferguson, a former CFO of Combs’ document label, Derek Ferguson, testified about managing Combs’ funds throughout his tenure of employment. “I’d do every thing I might to ensure it [financial impropriety] didn’t occur,” Ferguson stated.
On the stand, Ferguson stated that he by no means witnessed any crimes dedicated by Combs or his workers. Ferguson, who labored primarily from New York, stated he wasn’t current in Combs’ non-public areas the place a lot of the alleged abuse occurred.
Wanting Forward
Prosecutors indicated that Kristina Khorram, a former Combs staffer, might testify underneath cooperation. Because the trial continues into June, the stakes stay sky-high. If convicted, Sean Combs faces life in jail.