Next witness AUSA: We calls Scott Mescudi.
[Kid Cudi takes the witness stand in a leather jacket, white shirt and blue jeans]
AUSA Johnson: What did you do for work?
Mescudi: I'm an actor and musician. Known as Kid Cudi.
AUSA: Who is this? [photo]
Mescudi: Cassie
Kid Cudi: We dated in 2011.
AUSA: Who else was she involved with?
Mescudi: Sean Combs.
AUSA: What did you know about their status?
Mescudi: That she and Sean Combs had some problems and they weren't dating anymore
AUSA: What was her demeanor?
Mescudi: Very stressed and worried.
AUSA: Where did you go?
Mescudi: The Sunset Marquis.
AUSA: Why?
Mescudi: I thought it was safe, off the radar
AUSA: Who else did you speak with?
Mescudi: Capricorn Clark. She sounded near tears.
AUSA: What did she say?
Mescudi: That Sean Combs in the car, near my house Combs'
Brian Steel: Objection
Judge: Overruled
AUSA: You called Sean Combs?
Mescudi: I did... He said, I'm over here waiting for you.
AUSA: When you arrived, what did the outside look like?
Mescudi: Pretty normal.
AUSA: Any security camera?
Mescudi: Yes but I found out they weren't working
Mescudi: But the security cameras had been moved.
AUSA: Did you move them?
Mescudi: No. AUSA: What did you see inside your home?
Mescudi: Gifts were open, some stuff I got from Chanel. And my dog was locked up in the bathroom.
AUSA: How did you usually leave your dog?
Mescudi: I let him roam.
AUSA: How long had you had your dog?
Mescudi: Three years.
AUSA: What changes were behavior of your dog, after the break in?
Mescudi: Jittery, on edge all the time
Mescudi: I got back in & called Sean Combs again. I was looking for him. I wanted to fight him. You know.
AUSA: Did he answer?
Mescudi: Yeah. He said, I'm on my way. I thought to myself- Combs' Steel: Objection
Judge: Grounds?
Steel: Non responsive
Judge: Overruled
Judge: Ask a new question.
AUSA: When you saw Cassie, how did she seem?
Mescudi: Depressed.
AUSA: Did you see Cassie in Connecticut?
Mescudi: Yes. She needed it.
AUSA: Did Mr. Combs call you?
Mescudi: Yes, he hit me a few times?
AUSA: Hit?
Mescudi: Called me.
AUSA: What did you say?
Mescudi: That I didn't want to talk with him, he broke into my house, hurt my dog
AUSA: Did you and Ms. Ventura break up?
Mescudi: Yes.
AUSA: What about your car?
Mescudi: My dog's babysitter called me and told me my car was on fire
AUSA: Where were you?
Mescudi: At a relative of my ex-girlfriend
AUSA: Where did you go?
Mescudi: To my house. 8925 Hollywood Hills Road
AUSA: Let me show you 6 pictures. Do you recognize?
Mescudi: My Porsche.
Mescudi: That's the damage to my Porsche from the Molotov cocktail. AUSA: Who took these photos?
Mescudi: Chip, a good friend and collaborator.
AUSA: What's depicted here?
Mescudi: The hole they cut in the roof of my car to put in the Molotov cocktail
AUSA: What was your reaction to your car being set on fire?
Mescudi: What the fúck
Objection
Judge: Overruled
Judge: Break
Judge: Will you finish the witnesses of today?
AUSA: Yes, though the cross of Mr. Kaplan was three times long that we thought Jury entering!
AUSA: Was the damage on your car present before the call from the dogsitter?
Mescudi: No.
AUSA: Did you think it was accidental or intentional?
Mescudi: Intentional.
AUSA: Where did you last see Ms. Ventura?
Mescudi: At the Soho House... I'd reached out to Sean Combs and said, Let's talk, this is getting out of hand.
Combs' Brian Steel: Can we have a sidebar?
Judge: Do you have an objection?
Steel: Yes.
Judge: Sustained. Disregard and move on.
AUSA: Who set up the meeting at Soho House?
Mescudi: D-Roc and my manager
AUSA: What was Mr. Combs doing?
Mescudi: Standing there like a Marvel Super Villain [some laughter]
Mescudi: He said, We were homies, you know that is my girl
AUSA: What did you say?
Mescudi: I thought you had broken up. Then Sean Combs offered me water, twice
Mescudi: It was weird, Sean Combs being so calm.
AUSA: What did Cassie say?
Mescudi: That we have fallen in love, things happened
AUSA: What did you say to Mr. Combs?
Mescudi: What about my car. He said, "I don't know what you are talking about." I walked away
AUSA: Did you see Sean Combs later?
Mescudi: A few years later, also at Soho House, he said, I'm just sorry for all that bullsh*t. I was surprised, so I found peace with it.
AUSA: No further questions at this time
Judge: Mr. Steel
Combs' Brian Steel: I want to ask you some questions about your Porsche, in 2022 Mescudi: 2012.
Steel: I apologize. You get a call about damage to your vehicle. Any surveillance photos?
Mescudi: No. My dog's babysitter did send me pictures of the damage
Combs' Steel: The DNA taken, are you aware it came back being a female?
AUSA: Objection. No foundation.
Judge: Sustained
Steel: Do you know there were DNA results?
Judge: I'll allow that
Mescudi: No
Combs' Steel: Ms. Ventura told you it was over?
Mescudi: We just stopped talking
Steel: You told this honorable court and this jury, that she played you?
Mescudi: Yes.
Steel: She played you and you had no clue?
Mescudi: No clue.
Combs' Steel: In 2011 you went on a tour?
Mescudi: Yes.
Steel: 65 locations?
Mescudi: Yeah.
Steel: At that time, Sean Combs as an icon, fair to say?
Mescudi: Yes.
Steel: You and Ms. Ventura had a sexµal relationship?
AUSA: Objection!
Sidebar
[After sidebar]
Mescudi: Mr. Steel, can I-
Judge: No, you can do that on re-direct.
Steel: Do you want to tell me something?
Mescudi: Sean Combs asked about me doing a song with Ms. Ventura in 2010.
Steel: Thank you.
Combs' Steel: You believe they left your front door unlocked? Mescudi: Yes.
Steel: No forced entry?
Mescudi: No.
Steel: Just presents opened, door in the bathroom - I'm not belittling, just asking... You called Sean Combs?
Mescudi: Yeah.
Steel: He was calm?
Mescudi:Yes
Combs' Steel: You went to see him, you didn't think he had a gun?
Mescudi: I couldn't call it.
Steel: You are a strong person, that's how you categorize yourself?
Mescudi: Yeah. This crossed the line.
Steel: Ms. Ventura told you she was abused
Mescudi: Yes.
Combs' Steel: But she never said she was sexµally abused, true?
Mescudi: She did not.
Steel: You loved her? Tell me if I'm wrong.
Mescudi: I did.
Steel: You got played by the same person who played Mr. Combs... Cassie Ventura.
Combs' Steel: In the 13 years since, have you ever been notified in California that there has been any more action on this car fire?
Mescudi: No Steel: Did Ms. Ventura have multiple phones? Mescudi: I don't remember.
Steel: 35-12..
Mescudi: If I said it, I said it
Combs' Steel: Do you know what a burner phone is?
Mescudi: Untraceable
Steel: The trespass, you call it a break-in, Ms. Ventura told you she'd given your home address to Mr. Combs?
Mescudi: Yes. In the morning.
Steel: No more questions. Thanks.
Mescudi: No problem
Judge: Re-direct?
AUSA Johnson: What did Ms. Ventura confide in you about abuse?
Mescudi: That he would hit her, sometimes kick her.
AUSA: The day of the break in, was she carefree?
Mescudi: No.
AUSA: What did Capricorn Clark tell you?
Mescudi: Sean Combs and an affiliate forced her into a car to come to my house... I called the police.
AUSA: How would you describe Cassie that day?
Mescudi: Just really shook. Him finding out about us
AUSA: Why did your relationship with Ms. Ventura end?
Mescudi: The drama, it was getting out of hand. I wanted to give space
AUSA: What drama?
Mescudi: The break in. For my safety, her safety-
Combs' Steel: Objection
Judge: Grounds?
Steel: Speculation
Overruled
AUSA: Why did you have safety concerns?
Mescudi: Because I knew Sean Combs was violent -
Combs' Steel: Your Honor, may we approach?
[Sidebar]
AUSA: The meeting at the Soho House, Mr. Combs said, I don't know what you're talking about, about your car. Did you believe him?
Combs' Steel: Objection
Judge: Re-phrase.
AUSA: What was your understanding?
Mescudi: That he was lying.
AUSA: No further questions
Judge: Any re-cross?
Combs' Steel: No, Your Honors.
Judge: Mr. Mescudi, you're done.
Mescudi: All right
[Leaves]