By Michael R. Sisak and Larry NeumeisterThe Related Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Jurors heard from a dozen witnesses throughout a second week of testimony within the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial as prosecutors sought to show intercourse trafficking and racketeering.
Rapper and actor Child Cudi was on the witness stand. So was singer Daybreak Richard, previously of the group Danity Kane.
There was extra testimony from witnesses who mentioned they noticed Combs beating his former girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie. Jurors additionally heard testimony about weapons, extortion and a automobile being set on hearth.
The trial resumes Could 27 after the Memorial Day vacation.
Listed below are key moments from Week 2:
Brick by brick, prosecutors search to show racketeering
A lot of the case introduced by prosecutors to date has revolved round accusations that Combs bodily and sexually abused Cassie for years, and coerced her into sexual encounters referred to as “freak-offs” with males who have been paid hundreds of {dollars} to have intercourse together with her.
But Combs isn’t merely charged with intercourse crimes. He’s charged with racketeering. Prosecutors say they may show that Combs used his companies and staff “to hold out, facilitate, and canopy up his acts of violence, abuse, and industrial intercourse.”
A few of these staff testified in Week 2.
George Kaplan, a private assistant for Combs from 2013 to 2015, informed jurors he’d toss out liquor bottles and medicines and clear up child oil from Combs’ lodge rooms after the music producer completed freak-offs.
He mentioned he by no means reported abuse to authorities, even after Combs beat up Cassie on a personal jet.
One other private assistant, David James, testified that Combs had him inventory lodge rooms with Viagra, condoms, child oil and lubricant, amongst different provides.
He additionally recounted how Combs had three handguns on his lap as they drove to a Los Angeles diner searching for his document business rival, Dying Row Data co-founder Suge Knight.
Cassie’s mother tells jury {that a} jealous Combs demanded $20,000
Cassie briefly dated Child Cudi throughout a time frame when it seemed like she would possibly break up with Combs.
Cassie’s mom, Regina Ventura, testified that she felt “bodily sick” after her daughter despatched her an e mail saying Combs had realized concerning the relationship with Cudi and deliberate to retaliate by releasing tapes of Cassie having intercourse.
Then, Ventura mentioned, Combs contacted her and angrily demanded $20,000, saying he was owed it as a result of he’d spent cash on Cassie’s profession.
Ventura tapped dwelling fairness to wire the cash to Combs’ enterprise. A number of days later, the cash was returned.
Child Cudi testifies a couple of break-in and a firebombed automobile
Child Cudi testified Could 22 that Cassie sounded “very burdened, nervous, simply scared” when she phoned him in December 2011 to say that Combs had realized they have been relationship.
Cudi mentioned he was confused as a result of he thought Combs and Cassie had damaged up.
Then, he mentioned, considered one of Combs’ assistants referred to as.
She mentioned Combs and an aide have been in Cudi’s dwelling, ready to talk with him. She additionally mentioned she had been compelled right into a automobile to affix them.
Cudi mentioned he raced to his home, however Combs was gone. Inside, he testified, he discovered Christmas presents had been opened and his canine was locked within the lavatory. After the break-in, his canine was “very jittery and type of on edge on a regular basis,” he mentioned.
Then, somebody set hearth to Cudi’s automobile, destroying it.
Cudi mentioned he met with Combs to squash their beef the subsequent day at a Los Angeles lodge. When he walked in, he mentioned Combs was staring out the window, standing with palms behind his again “like a Marvel supervillain.”
Combs denied having something to do with the burned automobile, however Cudi mentioned he didn’t imagine him.
Singer Daybreak Richard tells of loss of life threats
The primary witness of the week, Daybreak Richard, bought her massive break within the music enterprise as a forged member on Combs’ actuality TV present, “Making the Band.” She carried out with two Combs-backed acts, Danity Kane and Diddy — Soiled Cash.
However Richard mentioned Combs threatened her life after she noticed him beat Cassie and attempt to hit her with a skillet in 2009. She mentioned Combs informed her and one other girl that they “might go lacking” in the event that they didn’t keep quiet.
She mentioned she noticed Combs beat Cassie regularly. “He would punch her, choke her, drag her, slap her within the mouth,” she mentioned.
A longtime good friend of Cassie’s defined why she’s a good friend no extra
Kerry Morgan mentioned she had a falling out with Cassie, her good friend of 17 years, after Combs attacked her in a rage in 2018 demanding to know who Cassie was dishonest on him with.
Morgan mentioned he slung a hanger at her head and tried to choke her, leaving her dizzy, vomiting and concussed, with finger imprints on her neck.
As Morgan contemplated a lawsuit a month later, she met Cassie at a pizza parlor, the place Cassie had her signal a nondisclosure settlement in return for $30,000, she mentioned. However then, she mentioned, Cassie “informed me she thought I used to be milking it, that I used to be overexaggerating.” They haven’t spoken since.
Lodge supervisor says Combs all the time left a pricey mess
One of many final witnesses of the week was Frédéric Zemmour, the overall supervisor of L’Ermitage Beverly Hills in California.
He revealed that Combs’ visitor profile famous that he “ALWAYS spills candle wax on the whole lot and makes use of extreme quantities of oil.” The profile instructed employees to “place the room out of order upon departure for deep cleansing.”
“Please authorize an additional $1000 when visitor stays with us to cowl any room damages,” Combs’ visitor profile mentioned.
Witnesses have testified that Combs preferred to make use of candles and child oil throughout freak-offs.
Levity finds a spot in a trial about violence
Regardless of the trial’s critical subject material, there have been a number of gentle moments.
On Could 22, Combs’ former private assistant, Kaplan, shared that his ex-boss “loves applesauce.”
Combs nodded and smiled as Kaplan recounted that he “eats it on the aspect or on prime of a variety of issues.”
“Cheeseburgers?” protection legal professional Marc Agnifilo requested.
“Cheeseburgers being considered one of them,” Kaplan mentioned as laughter broke out throughout the courtroom.
