Everyone who has testified in the Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial so far: Recap

Throughout two weeks of testimony in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex-trafficking and racketeering trial, federal prosecutors known as 16 witnesses, making an attempt to show the rap mogul embraced violence and threats to coerce ladies into intercourse and shield his music empire.

Along with listening to 4 days of testimony from star witness Cassie Ventura – who alleged that Combs subjected her to a decade of abuse – the jury has heard from 5 witnesses who testified they noticed Combs be violent towards Ventura, two of Combs’ workers who allegedly helped him commit crimes, two escorts who mentioned they have been paid by Combs and two federal brokers who performed searches of Combs’ property.

Prosecutors known as a number of witnesses who, they argue, corroborate Ventura’s testimony, together with a make-up artist and male escort who each testified about witnessing Combs’ violence. Ventura’s mom mentioned she took out a house fairness mortgage after Combs allegedly blackmailed her daughter, rapper Child Cudi testified that Combs broke into his residence — and mentioned he suspected that Combs coordinated the firebombing of his automobile in retaliation for his relationship with Ventura — and Kerry Morgan advised jurors that she pleaded along with her former finest good friend to go away what she mentioned was a poisonous and abusive relationship with Combs.

Combs has pleaded not responsible and denies sexually assaulting or trafficking anybody. Combs’ attorneys have argued that the rap mogul’s home violence was pushed by jealousy and drug habit, and that his voyeuristic sexual actions, whereas not mainstream, are his personal enterprise and don’t quantity to intercourse trafficking.

When courtroom resumes on Tuesday, federal prosecutors plan to name Combs’ former assistant Capricorn Clark and representatives from Los Angeles fireplace and police departments.

Listed below are the federal witnesses who’ve been known as to this point:

Israel Florez, lodge safety guard

Prosecutors started their case by calling a witness whose testimony allowed them to point out the jury a number of movies of Combs assaulting Ventura on March 5, 2016, in a Los Angeles lodge.

After receiving a report of a girl in misery, safety guard Israel Florez testified that he discovered Combs and Ventura within the elevator vestibule on the sixth flooring of the InterContinental Resort Century Metropolis in Los Angeles.

“One of the simplest ways I can describe it is sort of a devilish stare. He was simply taking a look at me,” Florez mentioned about first encountering Combs, including that he seen Ventura had a “purple eye.”

After escorting Ventura out of the lodge, Florez mentioned Combs tried to supply him a bribe, which he rejected.

“He was just about holding like a stack of cash,” he mentioned. “He was just about telling me, like, ‘Hey, maintain this, do not inform no one,’ just about.”

Throughout Florez’s testimony, prosecutors entered into proof a number of movies of the alleged assault, exhibiting Combs grabbing Ventura, throwing her to the bottom and dragging her. Protection attorneys argued that the video – which they acknowledged depicted home violence – could be unfairly prejudicial to the jury, however the decide allowed the jury to see the movies.

Protection attorneys additionally famous that his feedback a few “devilish stare” weren’t in written reviews in regards to the incident.

Daniel Phillip, male escort

For his or her second witness, prosecutors known as Daniel Phillip to testify about witnessing Combs being violent towards Ventura.

Phillip – who mentioned he was paid as a lot as $6000 every time he had intercourse with Ventura whereas Combs sat within the nook masturbating – testified that he noticed Combs throw a bottle at Ventura then drag her throughout the ground after she didn’t instantly comply with his directions.

“Mr. Combs got here out of the room, and I simply noticed a bottle fly previous her and hit the wall,” he mentioned. “He grabbed her by her hair, and began dragging her by her hair into her bed room.”

“I may hear Cassie yelling, ‘I am sorry, I am sorry,’ after which I may hear once more what appeared like she was being slapped or somebody was being slapped round and slammed across the room,” he testified.

Phillip advised jurors that he didn’t really feel comfy intervening due to the facility dynamic between him and Combs.

“My ideas was that this was somebody with limitless energy, and likelihood is that even when I did go to the police, that I would nonetheless find yourself shedding my life,” he mentioned.

On cross-examination, Combs’ attorneys tried to focus on an alleged inconsistency in his account – whether or not Combs requested him to go away after the alleged violence or resume having intercourse with Ventura – however Phillip stood by his unique testimony.

Cassie Ventura, musician and Combs’ ex-girlfriend

Combs’ former girlfriend and musician Cassie Ventura testified for 4 days in the course of the first week of the trial, as prosecutors tried to put the inspiration of their prison case in opposition to Combs. Prosecutors known as her as considered one of their first witnesses partially as a result of she was eight months-pregnant on the time of her testimony.

After Combs signed Ventura to Dangerous Boy Information, she testified that they started an on-and-off relationship that lasted for greater than a decade. Whereas Ventura mentioned their relationship had a loving and constructive begin, Combs allegedly turned more and more violent along with her, threatened her if she ever disobeyed him and required her to take part in drug-fueled intercourse events known as “freak offs.”

“Each freak-off was directed by Sean. Like, he knew particularly the place he needed everybody to be, the lighting and such,” Ventura mentioned.

Ventura additionally testified about a number of violent episodes the place Combs allegedly abused her, together with the 2016 incident that jurors watched on video.

“After I selected to go away, I grabbed what I may and I bought out and Sean adopted me into the hallway earlier than the elevators and grabbed me up, threw me on the bottom, kicked me, tried to tug me again to the room,” she mentioned.

Ventura testified that the threats and relentless sexual calls for from Combs — in addition to a sample of coerced intercourse with strangers — drove her into habit, uncovered her to common spates of violence and led her to ponder suicide.

The couple broke up in 2018, and in 2023 Ventura sued Combs over what she alleged was a “cycle of abuse, violence, and intercourse trafficking.” Whereas the lawsuit was shortly settled – in line with Ventura for $20 million – with no admission of wrongdoing from Combs, the allegations in her lawsuit prompted federal investigators to start trying into Combs.

Ventura advised the jury that she determined to testify within the case as a result of it was the “proper factor” to do.

“I can not carry this anymore. I can not carry the identical, the guilt, the best way I used to be guided to deal with individuals like they have been disposable. What’s proper is correct, what’s flawed is flawed. I am right here to do the appropriate factor,” she mentioned.

Throughout cross-examination, protection attorneys tried to make use of years of textual content messages between Combs and Ventura to recommend that she was a keen participant within the intercourse events and that their relationship was pushed by mutual jealousy and infidelity. Protection attorneys have argued that Combs’ violence was influenced by his drug use and essentially pushed by jealousy, not as a want to coerce others into intercourse, as prosecutors have alleged.

Yasmin Binda, federal agent

Yasmin Binda, a federal agent with Homeland Safety Investigations, testified in regards to the search performed on Combs’ lodge room shortly after he was arrested in September 2024.

In accordance with Binda, investigators discovered $9,000 in money, substances that examined constructive for MDMA and ketamine, and provides like lubricant and child oil that different witnesses have mentioned have been generally used throughout freak-offs. Jurors have been proven photographs of the within of Comb’s Park Hyatt lodge room throughout Binda’s testimony.

Daybreak Richard, former member of Danity Kane

Daybreak Richard, a former member of the Combs’ pop group Danity Kane, advised jurors that she personally witnessed Combs assaulting Ventura on a number of events, together with a 2009 outburst in Los Angeles whereas Ventura tried to cook dinner breakfast.

“He got here downstairs offended and was saying the place the f— was his eggs – excuse my language – and he was telling Cassie that she by no means will get something proper, the place the f— is his meals, and he proceeded to return over to her and took the skillet with the eggs in it and tried to hit her over the pinnacle with it and she or he fell to the bottom,” she testified.

Richard additionally advised jurors that she witnessed Combs punch his then-girlfriend Ventura within the face with a “closed fist” in 2009 earlier than a music competition in Central Park. After Ventura placed on sun shades and make-up to cover the harm, Richard mentioned she placed on sun shades “in solidarity” with Ventura. The jury then noticed a photograph of Richard, Ventura and one other member of Danity Kane carrying sun shades on the competition.

Richard additionally advised the jury that the alleged violence prolonged to different public settings, testifying that Combs punched Ventura within the abdomen throughout a bunch dinner attended by Usher, Ne-Yo and Interscope Information co-founder Jimmy Iovine. Richard talked about that allegation in her civil lawsuit in opposition to Combs, however protection attorneys highlighted that Richard’s prior dialogue of the dinner didn’t point out the high-profile visitors.

Richard in 2024 sued Combs for assault, copyright infringement and false imprisonment, alleging — amongst different issues — that he groped her on quite a few events and compelled her to endure inhumane work circumstances. Combs denied all the allegations and his attorneys in Could filed a movement to dismiss the case.

On cross-examination, protection legal professional Nicole Westmoreland mentioned Richard’s account of an alleged assault has modified a number of occasions and recommended Richard agreed to testify in opposition to Combs as a result of he ruined her music profession by dismantling the music teams she had as soon as been part of.

Kerry Morgan, Ventura’s former finest good friend

Ventura’s former finest good friend Kerry Morgan testified about two situations when she mentioned she personally noticed Combs assault Ventura. She mentioned she noticed Combs hit Ventura in a house Combs rented in Hollywood Hills, and she or he testified a few second occasion when Comb assaulted Ventura throughout a visit to Jamaica.

“I heard her screaming and I went to the hallway. The hallway was extraordinarily lengthy. And so they have been popping out of the main bedroom and he was dragging her by her hair on the ground,” she testified in regards to the incident.

Prosecutors additionally requested Morgan in regards to the aftermath of a 2016 incident when Combs is accused of assaulting Ventura. Morgan’s account matched what Ventura advised jurors final week, saying the police arrived after the incident however Ventura refused to cooperate.

Morgan mentioned her relationship with Ventura led to 2018 after she says Combs tried to choke Morgan and hit her with a wood coat hanger. Morgan testified that Combs demanded she inform him “who Cassie was dishonest on him with” whereas Ventura locked herself in a toilet. Morgan mentioned she later accepted a $30,000 fee from Combs after she threatened to sue. She agreed to a confidentiality deal in return for the cash, she testified. She testified her friendship with Ventura ended at that time.

David James, Combs’ former private assistant

David James, Combs’ former private assistant, testified about his tenure working as Combs’ private assistant, providing jurors an anecdote about his first time coming into the headquarters of Dangerous Boy Leisure for a job interview.

“That is Mr. Combs’ kingdom. We’re all right here to serve in it,” James mentioned an worker advised him after pointing to a photograph of Combs.

James advised jurors in regards to the wide selection of duties he accomplished for the rap mogul: from stocking lodge rooms and allegedly shopping for medicine to being the driving force when Combs – allegedly armed with a number of weapons – needed to confront rival file government Marion “Suge” Knight.

Jurors first heard in regards to the alleged interplay between Combs and Knight throughout Ventura’s testimony, and James mentioned the interplay prompted him to ultimately depart his job working for Combs.

“I used to be actually struck by it. I spotted for the primary time being Mr. Combs’ assistant that my life was in peril,” James testified.

Regina Ventura, Cassie Ventura’s mom

Regina Ventura, the mom of star witness Cassie Ventura, advised the jury that she took out a house fairness mortgage to pay Combs in an effort to stop him from following by means of on an alleged risk to launch a intercourse tape of her daughter.

“The threats which have been made in the direction of me by Sean ‘Puffy’ Combs are that … he’s going to launch 2 express intercourse tapes of me,” Ventura wrote in an e mail to her mom and Combs’ assistant Capricorn Clark on Dec. 23, 2011. Jurors noticed the e-mail when Cassie Ventura testified.

“I used to be bodily sick. I didn’t perceive loads of it. The intercourse tapes threw me. I didn’t know [Combs] however I knew that he was going to attempt to damage my daughter,” she advised jurors.

Regina Ventura testified that she and her husband determined to take out a mortgage so they may ship Combs the $20,000 he demanded, although he in the end returned the cash. She additionally testified that she took images of the accidents her daughter allegedly suffered from Combs in order that they might have a file of the alleged abuse.

Roughly 15 years after she documented the accidents, prosecutors final week confirmed the photographs to the jury to underscore Cassie Ventura’s testimony in regards to the violence she suffered at Combs’ fingers.

Sharay Hayes, male escort

Identified professionally as The Punisher – a nickname primarily based on his fashion of taking part in basketball – male escort Sharay Hayes advised the jury that he was employed a few dozen occasions by Combs and Ventura.

He mentioned he first met Combs and Cassie Ventura in 2012, when he was employed to assist create a “attractive erotic scene” for what, Ventura mentioned, was Combs’ birthday. He testified that Ventura instructed him to return to Trump Worldwide Resort & Tower on Central Park West in Manhattan to carry out a strip act. When he arrived, Ventura requested him to cowl her in child oil whereas Combs watched, Hayes mentioned.

“I used to be particularly advised to … attempt not to have a look at him, no communication or something between me and him,” he mentioned. “The room was very dimly lit. … The entire furnishings was coated in sheets and there was an space just about arrange for me to sit down and her to sit down throughout from me, and there have been little bowls within the space with child oil in them.”

Hayes advised jurors that Combs was nude for the encounter and wore a veil, often masturbating in the course of the interplay and providing “delicate instructions” to Ventura.

After their first interplay, Hayes mentioned he labored for the couple as much as 12 extra occasions, receiving $1,200 to $2,000 on every event.

Cross-examined by Combs’ attorneys, Hayes testified that he believed Ventura generally flinched throughout a few of Combs’ directives however in any other case appeared comfy in the course of the exchanges, probably undercutting the argument she was coerced to take part. The query of whether or not Ventura was pressured or participated voluntarily is without doubt one of the most important points within the case in opposition to Combs.

Gerald Gannon, federal agent

Gerald Gannon, a particular agent from United States Homeland Safety Investigations, walked the jury by means of a few of the proof that he mentioned was recovered from the rap star’s residence on the unique Miami Seashore enclave of Star Island.

Gannon testified that federal brokers recovered the components of two AR-15 assault-style rifles with defaced serial numbers solely toes from the place Combs allegedly saved supplies for freak-offs — together with child oil, lingerie, platform heels and intercourse toys. Prosecutors have argued that the specter of violence allowed Combs to coerce his alleged victims to take part in freak-offs.

Holding components of the weapons in courtroom for the jury to see, Gannon testified that investigators recovered a fully-loaded handgun in a bit of baggage present in Combs’ residence.

Jurors additionally noticed the trove of medicine allegedly present in Combs’ residence, together with quite a lot of drugs, marijuana, powders and different medicine that prosecutors have alleged have been used to make ladies compliant throughout freak-offs and would permit them to carry out gone the purpose of exhaustion.

Daybreak Hughes, skilled witness

Psychologist Daybreak Hughes was known as by prosecutors to elucidate to the jury that many individuals choose to remain in abusive relationships as a result of they really feel trapped or kind an “intense psychological bond” that attracts them to their abuser.

“It is laborious for us to interrupt up with somebody beneath one of the best of circumstances,” Hughes mentioned. “When you may have all this violence and abuse, you are simply attempting to dwell day after day on this very micro means.” She defined that oftentimes victims’ emotional power turns into dedicated to avoiding beatings as a substitute of plotting a means out of an abusive relationship.

Whereas Hughes as an skilled witness was not allowed to immediately analyze Combs’ relationship with Ventura, she supplied oblique context for a few of the matters Ventura touched on throughout her testimony. If victims are capable of escape an abusive relationship, Hughes advised the jury, they typically return, as Ventura testified that she did repeatedly with Combs.

Hughes additionally mentioned that victims typically undertake passive self-defense mechanisms that do not provoke their abusers, equivalent to “curling up in a ball.” Earlier witnesses Daybreak Richard and Kerry Morgan each testified that they noticed Ventura drop right into a fetal place throughout beatings they mentioned they witnessed Combs inflicting.

George Kaplan, former private assistant

Testifying beneath an immunity deal in order that he can’t be prosecuted for something he admits to, Combs’ former assistant George Kaplan advised jurors he stop his job after 15 months as a result of he may now not proceed “fixing” issues for Combs after the mogul’s repeated acts of violence.

Kaplan testified that he noticed Combs turn out to be violent on three events, together with one episode when he was summoned to Combs’ bed room solely to search out Ventura crying and bruised in mattress. He additionally testified seeing Combs holding a whisky glass over Ventura’s head throughout a flight to Las Vegas and one other occasion in 2015 when a “very offended” Combs threw apples at one other considered one of his girlfriends.

“In my coronary heart of hearts I knew what was taking place and I felt a component of guilt that I did not do something to cease it,” he advised jurors about why he stopped working for Combs.

Kaplan additionally advised jurors in regards to the technique of establishing and cleansing lodge rooms for the rap mogul. He testified that he typically was given only some hours’ discover to arrange a room and got here ready with a “lodge bag” crammed with what have been necessities for Combs: candles, child oil, Astroglide lubricant, an audio speaker and additional clothes. He additionally mentioned that he could be tasked with cleansing the rooms after Combs was executed as a result of he was involved that if lodge workers had cleaned the rooms instantly after Combs left, they could attempt to promote movies of photos of the aftermath of a freak-off.

Scott Mescudi, musician and actor

Child Cudi – whose authorized identify is Scott Mescudi – advised jurors that his transient relationship with Cassie Ventura was marked by violent threats from Combs that prompted him and Ventura to cease seeing each other. He advised jurors that he suspected Combs allegedly broke into his residence and coordinated the firebombing of his high-end sports activities automobile.

After beginning a romance with the singer and mannequin who was concerned with Combs on and off for years, Mescudi mentioned he acquired an abrupt cellphone name from Ventura to warn that Combs had realized they have been seeing one another. He mentioned he picked up Ventura and shortly acquired a name from Combs’ assistant informing him that Combs had damaged into his residence.

“I mentioned, ‘M——-, you in my home?’ And he mentioned, ‘What’s up?’ ‘Are you in my home? I simply need to speak to you. I am on my means over proper now,'” he testified.

Mescudi mentioned he shortly drove to his residence however didn’t discover Combs, although there have been traces of his alleged go to. He mentioned the Christmas presents he purchased for his household had been opened and his canine was locked within the lavatory. He additionally testified that he reported the incident to police.

Mescudi mentioned he and Ventura ultimately broke up as a result of “issues have been getting out of hand” and he felt involved for his or her security.

Throughout her testimony, Ventura mentioned that Combs threatened to harm her and Mescudi if their relationship continued and vowed to explode the automobile of the rival rapper. Mescudi testified that he suspected Combs adopted by means of with the risk in early 2012, telling jurors that somebody had lower the gentle high of his Porsche open and positioned a lit Molotov cocktail inside. Jurors have been proven the outcomes of that episode when prosecutors entered into proof a number of photographs of the charred car.

Protection attorneys have denied that Combs had any function within the firebombing of the car.

Mylah Morales, make-up artist

Prosecutors known as make-up artist Mylah Morales to testify a few 2010 incident when Combs allegedly assaulted Ventura of their lodge suite. In accordance with Morales, Combs stormed into the room they rented on the Beverly Hills Resort after an evening out.

“The place the f— is she?” Combs allegedly shouted earlier than he walked into the bed room the place Ventura was and closed the door, in line with Morales’ testimony.

Morales mentioned she heard “yelling and screaming” earlier than Combs exited the lodge room. She mentioned Ventura had a swollen eye, busted lip and “knots on her head” after the incident.

In accordance with Morales, Ventura stayed along with her for a number of days to get well after the incident. Morales testified {that a} good friend who was a health care provider checked on Ventura to see if she had a concussion and recommended she go to an emergency room, in line with her testimony, however Ventura allegedly mentioned it was “her want to not go to the ER.”

On cross-examination, Combs’ attorneys highlighted that Morales didn’t immediately witness the alleged assault as a result of she was exterior the bed room.

Frederick Zemmour, lodge supervisor

The final supervisor of the L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, Frederick Zemmour, mentioned Combs steadily stayed on the lodge, and his visitor profile famous some traits that different witnesses mentioned have been options of the drug-fueled intercourse events known as “freak offs” that Combs would host.

“All the time spills candle wax on every thing and makes use of extreme quantities of oil, place rooms out of order upon departure for deep cleansing,” Zemmour mentioned, citing notes the lodge saved on Combs.

When Ventura testified final week, she mentioned Combs typically booked rooms at L’Ermitage Beverly Hills to host freak-offs. She recounted one occasion when Combs allegedly requested she get right into a blowup pool that was crammed with “lube and oil.”

Joshua Croft, particular agent

Joshua Croft, a particular agent from Homeland Safety Investigations, briefly testified in regards to the course of for analyzing a few of the digital units recovered in the course of the investigation into Combs.

He advised the jury that he performed laptop extractions from three laptops that belonged to Cassie Ventura. One of many laptops included a person profile for Frank Black, an alias utilized by Sean Combs, he mentioned.