NEW YORK (AP) — Jurors heard from a dozen witnesses throughout a second week of testimony within the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial as prosecutors sought to show intercourse trafficking and racketeering.
Rapper and actor Child Cudi was on the witness stand. So was singer Daybreak Richard, previously of the group Danity Kane.
There was extra testimony from witnesses who stated they noticed Combs beating his former girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie. Jurors additionally heard testimony about weapons, extortion and a automobile being set on fireplace.
The trial resumes Tuesday after the Memorial Day vacation.
Listed here are key moments from Week 2:
Brick by brick, prosecutors search to show racketeering
A lot of the case introduced by prosecutors up to now has revolved round accusations that Combs bodily and sexually abused Cassie for years, and coerced her into sexual encounters known as “freak-offs” with males who have been paid 1000’s of {dollars} to have intercourse together with her.
But Combs is not merely charged with intercourse crimes. He is charged with racketeering. Prosecutors say they’ll show that Combs used his companies and workers “to hold out, facilitate, and canopy up his acts of violence, abuse, and industrial intercourse.”
A few of these workers testified in Week 2.
George Kaplan, a private assistant for Combs from 2013 to 2015, informed jurors he’d toss out liquor bottles and medicines and clear up child oil from Combs’ lodge rooms after the music producer completed freak-offs.
He stated he by no means reported abuse to authorities, even after Combs beat up Cassie on a non-public jet.
One other private assistant, David James, testified that Combs had him inventory lodge rooms with Viagra, condoms, child oil and lubricant, amongst different provides.
He additionally recounted how Combs had three handguns on his lap as they drove to a Los Angeles diner in search of his file trade rival, Dying Row Information co-founder Suge Knight.
Cassie’s mother tells jury {that a} jealous Combs demanded $20,000
Cassie briefly dated Child Cudi throughout a time frame when it regarded like she may cut up with Combs.
Cassie’s mom, Regina Ventura, testified that she felt “physically sick” after her daughter despatched her an e mail saying Combs had discovered in regards to the relationship with Cudi and deliberate to retaliate by releasing tapes of Cassie having intercourse.
Then, Ventura stated, Combs contacted her and angrily demanded $20,000, saying he was owed it as a result of he’d spent cash on Cassie’s profession.
Ventura tapped residence fairness to wire the cash to Combs’ enterprise. A number of days later, the cash was returned.
Child Cudi testifies a few break-in and a firebombed automobile
Child Cudi testified Thursday that Cassie sounded “very stressed, nervous, just scared” when she phoned him in December 2011 to say that Combs had discovered they have been courting.
Cudi stated he was confused as a result of he thought Combs and Cassie had damaged up.
Then, he stated, one in every of Combs’ assistants known as.
She stated Combs and an aide have been in Cudi’s residence, ready to talk with him. She additionally stated she had been compelled right into a automobile to affix them.
Cudi stated he raced to his home, however Combs was gone. Inside, he testified, he discovered Christmas items had been opened and his canine was locked within the toilet. After the break-in, his canine was “very jittery and kind of on edge all the time,” he stated.
Then, somebody set fireplace to Cudi’s automobile, destroying it.
Cudi set he met with Combs to squash their beef the following day at a Los Angeles lodge. When he walked in, he stated Combs was staring out the window standing with palms behind his again “like a Marvel supervillain.”
Combs denied having something to do with the burned automobile, however Cudi stated he did not imagine him.
Singer Daybreak Richard tells of dying threats
The primary witness of the week, Daybreak Richard, bought her massive break within the music enterprise as a solid member on Combs’ actuality TV present, “Making the Band.” She carried out with two Combs-backed acts, Danity Kane and Diddy — Soiled Cash.
However Richard stated Combs threatened her life after she noticed him beat Cassie and attempt to hit her with a skillet in 2009. She stated Combs informed her and one other girl that they “could go missing” in the event that they didn’t keep quiet.
She stated she noticed Combs beat Cassie ceaselessly. “He would punch her, choke her, drag her, slap her within the mouth,” she stated.
A longtime pal of Cassie’s defined why she’s a pal no extra
Kerry Morgan stated she had a falling out with Cassie, her pal of 17 years, after Combs attacked her in a rage in 2018 demanding to know who Cassie was dishonest on him with.
Morgan stated he slung a hanger at her head and tried to choke her, leaving her dizzy, vomiting and concussed, with finger imprints on her neck.
As Morgan contemplated a lawsuit a month later, she met Cassie at a pizza parlor, the place Cassie had her signal a nondisclosure settlement in return for $30,000, she stated. However then, she stated, Cassie “told me she thought I was milking it, that I was overexaggerating.” They have not spoken since.
Lodge supervisor says Combs all the time left a pricey mess
One of many final witnesses of the week was Frédéric Zemmour, the final supervisor of L’Ermitage Beverly Hills in California.
He revealed that Combs’ visitor profile famous that he “ALWAYS spills candle wax on everything and uses excessive amounts of oil.” The profile instructed employees to “place the room out of order upon departure for deep cleaning.”
“Please authorize an extra $1000 when guest stays with us to cover any room damages,” Combs’ visitor profile stated.
Witnesses have testified that Combs favored to make use of candles and child oil throughout freak-offs.
Levity finds a spot in a trial about violence
Regardless of the trial’s critical subject material, there have been just a few gentle moments.
On Thursday, Combs’ former private assistant, Kaplan, shared that his ex-boss “loves applesauce.”
Combs nodded and smiled as Kaplan recounted that he “eats it on the side or on top of a lot of things.”
“Cheeseburgers?” protection legal professional Marc Agnifilo requested.
“Cheeseburgers being one of them,” Kaplan stated as laughter broke out throughout the courtroom.
