Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs jury asks to review Casandra Ventura’s testimony
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Defense lawyers comfort Sean 'Diddy' Combs during his trial in New York City, on July 1.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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- Jury in Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial requested to review Cassie Ventura's testimony about a 2016 InterContinental hotel incident.
- Combs' lawyers admit to abusive behaviour but deny unwanted sex acts, arguing Ventura willingly participated in "freak offs".
- Prosecutors argue Combs coerced Ventura into sex acts via force, threats, and financial control, potentially leading to a life sentence.
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NEW YORK - The jury deliberating in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial asked on July 1 to review portions of the testimony of Casandra Ventura,
During the second day of its deliberations, the jury asked to review Ventura’s testimony regarding a 2016 incident at an InterContinental hotel in Los Angeles, when a surveillance camera captured footage of Combs kicking and dragging Ventura, a rhythm and blues singer known professionally as Cassie, in a hallway.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. His lawyers acknowledge he was at times abusive in domestic relationships, but argue he never subjected Ventura to any unwanted sex act.
Jurors saw the security camera footage several times throughout the trial. Prosecutors say that at the time of the incident, Ventura was attempting to leave a “freak off” - Combs’ term for a drug-fuelled sex marathon in which he would watch Ventura have sex with a paid male escort while he masturbated and sometimes filmed the act.
Prosecutors say that conduct amounted to sex trafficking because Combs used force and threats to cut off financial support or release sex tapes of Ventura to coerce her to take part in the performances, and because the escorts were paid.
Combs’ defence pointed to tender and sexually explicit text messages that Ventura sent Combs throughout their relationship to bolster their argument that she took part in the “freak offs” because she loved Combs and wanted to make him happy.
They say the violent 2016 altercation stemmed from a dispute about Combs’ relationship with another woman.
Combs, a former billionaire known for elevating hip-hop in American culture, apologised in 2024 after CNN aired footage of the InterContinental attack.
He could face life in prison if convicted on all counts. REUTERS
