His former assistant testified today too. It’s all pretty damning.
“ David James recalled the first time he interacted with Cassie Ventura while he was Combs’ personal assistant. It was in Miami when Combs rented a yacht to try to impress her, James said. When he and Ventura were smoking cigarettes, Ventura told him, “This place is crazy.” When James asked why she didn’t leave if she thought it was so crazy, Ventura told him she can’t. “He controls my career, pays my allowance, and pays my rent,” she said, according to James’ testimony. He broke down in tears on the stand again as he described his second interaction with Ventura, when they discussed a track list she picked out and was "super happy." James also testified he heard Combs talk about Ventura to a friend during a car trip in L.A., describing her both as his “queen” and as being “very moldable.” |
About 90% of defendants charged with federal offenses take a plea. 2-3% of cases go to trial. Of those cases that go to trial .4% are acquitted. The chances that the feds took a shaky case to trial are essentially zero.
The people who keep victim blaming and thinking that Diddy's going to be acquitted because of their opinions about women don't understand the charges or the way the federal system works. |
Thank you voice of reason. |
Can't figure out how to copy the link but Britney Spears Criminal.... |
Say what? |
Today at the trial:
"Jurors will get a more insider’s look at the luxurious—and often tumultuous—lifestyle Combs led with Cassie Ventura. After James’ testimony, the government is expected to call three witnesses today: Sharay Hayes, Regina Ventura and Jourdan Atkinson. Hayes is an exotic dancer known as “The Punisher,” while Regina Ventura is Cassie’s mother and Atkinson once worked as a personal chef for Combs.' |
This morinng, before the jury was in the courtoom:
Prosecutors and defense attorneys are debating upcoming testimony from David James, who will continue testifying this morning, and Cassie Ventura’s mother, Regina Ventura, who’s expected to take the stand later today. Prosecutors argue Regina Ventura can testify that in December 2011, Sean “Diddy” Combs demanded she pay him $20,000 for money he spent on her daughter after he learned she was romantically involved with Kid Cudi. The money demand came within days of Combs allegedly threatening Cassie Ventura and Kid Cudi and threatening to release sexually explicit videos of her. Regina Ventura took out a loan and wired the money to Combs. The money was wired back to her without explanation days later. The government has bank records to support the transactions. Prosecutors say the jury should hear this evidence they say speaks to the coercive control Combs held over Casandra Ventura. The defense objected to the testimony, saying it would be prejudicial to Combs highlighting the economic disparity between him and the Ventura family. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo also noted Combs gave the money back. Judge Arun Subramanian said Agnifilo could object to the testimony when it comes up during Regina Ventura’s testimony later today and he’d deal with it then. |
Cassie's mom is now on the stand. |
Here's what she testified. The defense did not cross-examine her, which is very rare, but a smart move by the defense.
Prosecutors revisited an email Cassie sent to her mother, Regina Ventura, in December 2011 that said Combs threatened to release explicit videos of Cassie after he learned she was dating Kid Cudi. "I was physically sick," Ventura said. "I did not understand it, the sex tape threw me. He was trying to hurt my daughter." She testified that Combs wanted $20,000 for the video. Ventura said Combs was "angry" that he had spent money on Cassie and that she was with another person. "We took a home equity loan and that was the only way we could get the money," she said. Regina Ventura said she took photos of her bruised daughter, Cassie, in late 2011 to make a record of the alleged beatings at the hands of Combs, Cassie's boyfriend at the time. "She was bruised and I wanted to make sure we memorialize it," Ventura told jurors about the photos taken that December. |
The punisher is now on the stand. ![]() |