The sex trafficking trial of hip hop tycoon Sean Combs is underway. Better known as Diddy, Combs faces some heavy charges. What is being alleged exactly and Diddy do it?
Newly released evidence photos have been presented in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex-trafficking and racketeering trial.
Cassie Ventura and Kerry Morgan testified about alleged abuse by Combs, including violent incidents.
Combs faces charges including sex trafficking and racketeering, with a potential life sentence.
Newly released evidence photos have been made public by the Department of Justice in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ ongoing sex-trafficking and racketeering trial, with confronting evidence being shown to the jury.
One of the photos is of a large chef’s knife in the handle of a door, which Diddy’s then-long-time girlfriendCassie Ventura said she used to protect herself from him.
She said she had locked herself in her apartment around the end of their relationship in 2018 and used the knife to feel safe from him.
“I was getting a lot of unannounced visits from Sean and I was trying to kill two birds with one stone. Lock it and I had a weapon,” she said in her testimony last Wednesday (local time).
Among the photos taken by law enforcement after they raided Diddy’s room at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan were images of bottles of baby oil, personal lubricant and bags of pink drugs.
The items were found in the Bad Boy Records founder’s room on September 16, 2024, after he was arrested.
Sean "Diddy" Combs is charged with transportation to engage in prostitution, sex trafficking and racketeering. Photo / Getty Images
On Monday, the woman who was once the best friend of Ventura also told the court she was “terrified” after the music star allegedly tried to use a hammer to smash down the front door of an apartment she was staying in.
Kerry Morgan testified that Combs choked her so hard he left finger marks on her neck and that she hasn’t spoken to Ventura since the incident.
Morgan, 39, testified about the abuse she said she witnessed her ex-BFF endure at the hands of Combs.
Cassie Ventura says she used a knife in the handle of a door to protect herself from Sean "Diddy" Combs. Photo / US Department of Justice
She described in graphic detail how Diddy “would punch [Cassie], choke her, drag her, slap her in the mouth”, and how he choked Morgan too and once beat her with a wooden hanger.
Singer Dawn Richard, who was in a band with Combs between 2009 and 2011, said she “frequently” saw Ventura being beaten. Richard alleged she was threatened by Combs in a manner that made her think “we could die” if she crossed the star.
But in a combative cross-examination, Combs’ lawyers accused Richard of embellishing her testimony and that she had “four recollections” of one alleged incident of violence.
Another famous celebrity has also been dragged into the trial with Usher’s name heard in the witness box.
Sean "Diddy" Combs and Dawn Richard, who were in a band together, perform onstage during the 2010 Bet Awards. Photo / Getty Images
Combs’ trial recommenced on Monday. He is charged with transportation to engage in prostitution, sex trafficking and racketeering. He could face life in jail for just the racketeering charge. Combs has pleaded not guilty.
Also on Monday, one of Combs’ personal assistants said the star liked Ventura because she was young and “mouldable”. But he said that despite her 11-year relationship with Combs, Ventura wasn’t even Combs’ primary girlfriend.
David James was described by Ventura as a “trusted assistant” of Combs.
“I’ve got her right where I want her, she’s young,” James paraphrased Combs as saying of Ventura.
Items found in Sean "Diddy" Combs' room at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan after law enforcement raided it on September 16, 2024. Photo / US Department of Justice
James testified the late model and actor Kim Porter, the mother of three of his children, was Combs’ “main girlfriend”. She died in 2018, a decade into Combs’ and Ventura’s relationship.
The assistant listed Ventura alongside “Sarah” and Tara” as second-rung relationships.
Combs’ threats: ‘We could die’
Richard testified that while part of the band Dirty-Diddy Money, with Combs, she recorded music at Combs’ Los Angeles home. On one occasion she said she saw Combs assault Ventura because of a disagreement over eggs. She also said Combs attempted to hit his partner with the frying pan the eggs had been cooking in.
The next day, she said, Combs invited her back to his house, told her no one was harmed in the incident and that “people go missing” if they talk.
The defence asked what her “understanding” was of “people go missing”.
“We could die – that was our understanding,” said Richard.
Cassie Ventura's one-time best friend Kerry Morgan has testified the singer lost her "confidence" and "sparkle" while with Sean "Diddy" Combs. Photo / Instagram
But despite the alleged violence, Richard remained with Combs’ band.
She alleged that Combs told her “Stay the f*** out of my relationship. You’re here to work you mother f***ers”.
“I made the decision it would be best for my safety (to not intervene) as (Cassie) wasn’t really ready to do anything.”
Combs’ lawyer slams testimony of singer
But Combs’ lawyer Nicole Westmoreland cast doubt on Richard.
She said the singer had changed what she remembered about the 2009 kitchen incident several times. This included the frying pan hitting Ventura, not hitting Ventura, hitting a wall or Combs throwing the eggs.
Law enforcement discovered bags of pink drugs in Sean "Diddy" Combs room in the Park Hyatt in Manhattan after they raided it on September 16, 2024. Photo / US Department of Justice
“It’s been hard for you to keep the story the same in the egg incident,” said Westmoreland.
“I told it to the best of my recollection,” said Richard.
“To the best of your recollection you have four different recollections,” the lawyer replied.
Westmoreland also said that the crucial alleged threat from Combs that “people go missing” was itself missing from Richard‘s earlier statements to prosecutors.
“That missing quote was missing three times,” the lawyer said.
Usher dragged into testimony
Richard also mentioned an incident in a restaurant when she was in Combs’ band where he allegedly punched Ventura in the stomach.
When questioned by the prosecution, Richard said various members of Combs’ staff were also at the dinner.
But under cross-examination from Combs’ lawyers, Richard said superstar singer Usher was also at the dinner.
The defence questioned why Richard would leave out such a prominent person from the list of guests at the dinner where she alleged an assault occurred. But Richard said she was specifically asked what “staff” were at the dinner, not anyone else.
‘Moved on from these people and their problems’ - former best friend
Ventura’s one-time best friend also took the stand in the Manhattan courtroom.
She told the court she did not want to testify.
“I have moved on from these people and their problems,” said Kerry Morgan, 39.
She met Ventura, who was 15 at the time, when she was 16. The pair modelled together in New York.
They stayed friends until 2018, giving Morgan a front-row seat to Combs’ and Ventura’s relationship.
“Cassie was fun, hard working and very confident,” Morgan said of her friend. But her relationship with Combs – including various alleged beatings she witnessed – changed Ventura.
“She lost her confidence and her sparkle. It wasn’t the same Cassie.”
Photos taken by law enforcement after they raided Sean "Diddy" Combs' room at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan showed bottles of baby oil, personal lubricant and bags of pink drugs. Photo / US Department of Justice
Morgan claimed she witnessed two vicious beatings of Ventura – where the pair both hid over fears for their safety – and numerous incidents of “slapping” and “pushing”.
In Jamaica, Morgan said Combs dragged Ventura by her hair from a bedroom into an outdoor area where she hit her head so badly she blacked out.
Combs’ alleged hammer act
In 2016, Morgan said Ventura came back to her house with a black eye followed by Combs 30 minutes later.
“(Cassie) locked herself in the bathroom,” she said.
“He wanted to know who Cassie was cheating on him with.
“He choked me and when I got away he boomeranged me with a wooden coat hanger.
“I had finger marks on my neck and the hanger hit me behind my right ear. I had a concussion, dizziness and vomited a few times.”
She testified she left the apartment and told one of Combs’ staff members who had arrived with the star that “he’s going crazy, he’s lost it” to which the staff member just shrugged.
A few weeks later, said Morgan, Combs offered her US$30,000 ($51,000) because of the alleged assault.
