Diddy Trial: Cassie Cries When Asked About Sex Acts

In Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial, pop singer Dawn Richard testified on Friday that she frequently witnessed Combs physically assault his then-girlfriend, Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, during their 11-year relationship. Richard described a 2009 incident at Combs’ Los Angeles home where he beat Ventura, dragged her upstairs by her hair, and later screamed and assaulted her again in front of others. The next day, Combs allegedly gave Richard and other witnesses flowers, warning that their careers would suffer if they reported the incident.

Combs, 55, faces five felony charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and prostitution-related offenses, with a potential sentence of 15 years to life if convicted. He has been detained in a Brooklyn jail since his arrest in September and has pleaded not guilty.

Casandra "Cassie" Ventura's Testimony: Ventura, Combs' former girlfriend and a central witness, concluded her testimony after nearly 20 hours over four days. On this final day, she faced cross-examination from Combs' defense attorney, Anna Estevao, who focused on Ventura's relationship with Combs, highlighting affectionate and sexually explicit text messages to suggest mutual consent in their activities, including the "Freak Offs" (drug-fueled sex parties). 

Ventura testified that Combs was sometimes kind, but these periods were fleeting, and she reiterated instances of physical abuse, including a 2016 hotel assault captured on surveillance video where Combs dragged and kicked her. 

She clarified that Combs' controlling behavior, such as taking her phone or passport when angry, persisted. Ventura also addressed drug use, noting both she and Combs used drugs heavily, but she could not confirm if Combs was in a "blackout" during the 2016 incident. The defense suggested Ventura encouraged some "Freak Offs," but she countered that Combs' texts often implied demands for such events, which she felt compelled to follow due to their long relationship dynamics. 

After her testimony, Ventura’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, read a statement outside court where she thanked supporters and vowed to never forget Combs’ alleged actions, emphasizing her testimony aimed to empower other survivors. Her husband, Alex Fine, commended her bravery in a statement also read by Wigdor.

Dawn Richard’s Testimony: Dawn Richard, a former member of Diddy Dirty Money and Danity Kane, testified about witnessing Combs violently assault Ventura in 2009 at his Los Angeles home. Richard recounted seeing Combs attack Ventura, hitting her in the head, kicking her while she was in a fetal position, and dragging her upstairs amid yelling and breaking glass. She described Combs swinging a skillet at Ventura and demanding his phone and eggs. Richard said she was scared for both Ventura and herself, which prevented her from intervening or calling the police. She further testified that the next day, Combs summoned her and another woman, Kalenna Harper, to his home, gave them flowers, and warned that speaking about the assault would harm their careers. Richard’s testimony was briefly interrupted for a sidebar discussion regarding a defense objection to her description of Combs’ threats.

Special Agent Yasin Binda’s Testimony: Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Yasin Binda, who handled logistics for Combs’ arrest on September 16, 2024, at the Park Hyatt hotel in Manhattan, testified about evidence recovered during a search of Combs’ hotel room. Jurors were shown photos of items including two Ziploc bags containing Johnson’s baby oil and Astroglide lubricant found in an entryway closet, additional bottles of baby oil and lubricant in the bathroom and on a nightstand, and a device for “mood lighting,” which Ventura had previously linked to "Freak Off" settings. Binda also presented a pill bottle containing clonazepam under the alias “Frank Black,” which Ventura testified Combs used, and glassine bags with pink powder testing positive for ketamine and MDMA. The jury examined these exhibits, which prosecutors tied to the "Freak Off" allegations.

Separately, Justin Bieber’s representative clarified that Bieber is not a victim of Combs but supports victims seeking justice, according to TMZ and People.