The prosecution has concluded its case towards Sean “Diddy” Combs, resting simply after 1:30 p.m. Tuesday following six weeks of harrowing and infrequently graphic testimony.
A complete of 34 witnesses had been known as to the stand, with essentially the most notable being Combs’ former girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, whose four-day testimony painted a disturbing image of abuse, management, and coerced sexual acts.
Ventura recounted being compelled into drug-fueled intercourse acts with male escorts — what Combs reportedly known as “freak-offs.” She instructed jurors she by no means wished to take part however felt she had no alternative.
Rapper Scott Mescudi, identified to followers as Child Cudi, testified about his personal relationship with Ventura and the abusive dynamic he noticed between her and Combs. His account appeared to have added weight to Ventura’s claims of manipulation and violence.
The prosecution additionally relied on testimony from two different girls who had relationships with Combs — one utilizing the pseudonym “Mia,” a former assistant, and one other recognized solely as “Jane.” Each supplied stark, firsthand accounts of the tradition Combs allegedly fostered behind closed doorways.
Mia testified that Combs sexually assaulted her on a number of events and that she ceaselessly cleaned up after the couple’s “resort nights.” She additionally recalled witnessing Combs bodily lash out at Ventura.
Jane described being anticipated to interact in intercourse acts with escorts to fulfill Combs. She described a way of life the place his fixed sexual calls for left her “sore, drained, exhausted, and overwhelmed.”
With the prosecution’s case full, the protection promptly filed a Rule 29 movement for judgment of acquittal on counts one via 5, together with the racketeering cost beneath the RICO statute.
Protection legal professional Alexandra Shapiro argued that prosecutors had didn’t show Combs engaged in racketeering or that there was any conspiracy.
“There is no such thing as a enterprise,” Shapiro instructed the court docket. “This was Combs participating in intercourse acts in his private time together with his girlfriends.”
She challenged the declare that workers members — similar to bodyguards and senior aides — had been complicit in facilitating the alleged legal habits.
“They did errands and made journey preparations, however they didn’t have something to do with what went on with Combs and his girlfriends within the resort room,” Shapiro mentioned.
She added that whereas workers might have seen child oil, Astroglide, alcohol, and medicines, they weren’t contributors in any conspiracy.
Shapiro additionally pointed to textual content messages the place Combs allegedly instructed aides to maintain particulars from each other.
In a single message, he wrote that “KK can’t know concerning the FO,” referring to freak-offs and his chief of workers, Kristina Khorram.
In accordance with the protection, Khorram and others tried to assist Ventura once they turned conscious of violence, and there’s no proof any of them believed the ladies had been being coerced.
The case is predicted to go to the jury earlier than the tip of the week.
“If this jury doesn’t maintain him accountable, it sends a message to each survivor within the business: energy nonetheless protects predators,” social media consumer Amber Speaks Up wrote on X. “This case isn’t nearly Diddy. Everyone knows that there are others doing the identical on this business. This trial is about whether or not fact stands an opportunity in rooms constructed to silence it.”
