Diddy Trial Judges Denies Mistrial Motion

The federal racketeering and sex trafficking trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs in Manhattan federal court Wednesday saw several significant developments during its 11th day of testimony:

Testimony of Deonte Nash: Celebrity stylist Deonte Nash, who worked with both Combs and his former girlfriend Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, testified about witnessing Combs physically assault Ventura. 

Nash recounted an incident in 2013 or 2014 where Combs allegedly pulled Ventura off a couch, hit her, and continued attacking her in a bedroom, causing her head to hit a bed frame, resulting in bleeding. Nash described seeing "a lot" of blood and panicking, attempting to call 911 but being stopped by Combs’ team.

Combs reportedly blamed Nash and another employee, referred to as “Mia,” saying, “Look what y’all made me do,” and arranged for Ventura to see a plastic surgeon. Nash also testified about another occasion where Ventura attempted to escape Combs by considering climbing over a hotel balcony after Combs threatened to release sex tapes from “freak-off” events to her parents’ workplaces. Nash accompanied Combs to the Le Montrose hotel in Beverly Hills, where Ventura was hiding, and witnessed Combs searching for her aggressively.

Testimony of Los Angeles Authorities: Los Angeles Police Department officer Christopher Ignacio testified about responding to a possible burglary call at rapper Scott Mescudi’s (Kid Cudi) home on December 22, 2011, after Combs allegedly broke in upon learning of Cudi’s relationship with Ventura. Ignacio noted a black Cadillac Escalade speeding away as police arrived. Additionally, Los Angeles Fire Department arson investigator Lance Jimenez testified about a January 2012 incident where Cudi’s Porsche was firebombed with a Molotov cocktail, showing burn damage and a “targeted” crime pattern, which prosecutors link to Combs’ racketeering charges.

Mistrial Motion Denied: Combs’ defense team, led by Marc Agnifilo, moved for a mistrial, arguing that prosecutors improperly implied Combs was involved in destroying fingerprint evidence related to the firebombing of Cudi’s car. Judge Arun Subramanian denied the motion, stating there was “absolutely no testimony from the witness that was prejudicial in any way, shape or form.”