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Cassie Ventura is again on the witness stand Friday to testify for a fourth day in Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ intercourse trafficking trial.
Defence attorneys started cross-examining the star witness on Thursday, urgent her to learn aloud textual content messages that appeared to point out her expressing need for the drug-fuelled group intercourse — referred to as freak-offs — she beforehand testified left her traumatized.
For the primary time in the course of the trial, there was some pressure amongst counsel about timing. In a letter to the decide, prosecutors insisted that the defence wrap up their questioning in time to permit for prosecution follow-ups on Friday, citing concern for Ventura’s “well being and security” and the potential for a mistrial if she goes into labour along with her third baby.
“The inefficiency of cross-examination yesterday” the federal government wrote, “raises the inference that the defendant hopes to perform exactly that final result.”
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Ventura is eight-and-a-half months pregnant.
Day 5
Defence lawyer Anna Estevao resumed her cross-examination with questions associated to the March 2016 recording of Combs attacking Ventura in a Los Angeles resort. In it, Combs could be seen throwing Ventura to the ground, kicking her and dragging her right into a resort hallway.
Estevao had Ventura learn aloud a textual content message during which she complained that Combs was uncontrolled from medication and alcohol that day. Within the message, Ventura advised Combs: “I’m not a rag doll. I’m someone’s baby.”
In textual content messages learn aloud to the jury, Combs and Ventura expressed love to at least one one other once more, simply days after the assault.
Ventura advised Combs in a single textual content: “We want a unique vibe from Friday.”
She additionally advised the court docket that Combs was cautious of her relationship or giving consideration to different males, even throughout breaks of their decade-long relationship.
The hip-hop star confiscated her cellphone on quite a few events, together with when he discovered she was relationship a soccer participant and when she suspected her of dancing with the singer Chris Brown.
Ventura didn’t title the participant and denied dancing with Brown.
What Combs is on trial for
U.S. prosecutors allege that for 20 years, behind the scenes, Combs was coercing and abusing girls with assist from a community of associates who helped silence victims by blackmail and violence.
Combs faces an indictment that features descriptions of freak-offs, that are outlined within the court docket doc as “elaborate and produced intercourse performances that Combs organized, directed, masturbated throughout, and sometimes electronically recorded.”
Quite a few witnesses have come ahead to accuse Combs of terrorizing individuals into silence by choking, hitting, kicking and dragging them, in line with prosecutors. One indictment alleges that Combs dangled somebody from a balcony.
Though dozens of women and men have alleged in lawsuits that Combs abused them, this trial will spotlight the claims of 4 girls.
Combs is charged with intercourse trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to have interaction in prostitution. He has denied all the fees in opposition to him and has rejected a plea deal, selecting to go to trial as a substitute.
If discovered responsible within the New York court docket, he may face life in jail.
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Day 4 testimony
Day 3 testimony
Day 2 testimony
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International Information can be protecting the Diddy trial in its entirety. Please verify again for updates.
— With recordsdata from The Related Press
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