The criminal trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs is coming to a close, as the prosecution and defence make their closing arguments this week.
Mr Combs, 55, who was arrested last year, faces charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty.
The government has spent six weeks building its case against him, painting a picture of a man who used violence and blackmail to fulfil sexual desires, and who ran a criminal enterprise to help cover up his many crimes.
They ranged from big names – stars like rapper Kid Cudi and R&B singer Cassie Ventura – to Mr Combs’ employees including makeup artists, stylists and assistants.
The jury also heard from people outside the hip-hop mogul’s circles – male escorts, hotel staff and special agents – who became wrapped into his world.
R&B singer Cassie Ventura was the prosecution’s star witness, taking the stand nine months pregnant and giving birth just days after she finished testifying.
During her 11 years dating Mr Combs, Ms Ventura testified that she’d been forced to take drugs and commit “humiliating” sex acts with male escorts while the defendant watched and filmed. These sex parties, known as “freak offs”, were a central feature of the trial.
Often breaking down in tears, Ms Ventura described instance after instance when Mr Combs allegedly beat her, kicked her, punched her or dragged her by her hair. She said a network of employees knew what was going on and worked with Mr Combs to hide her injuries.
Jurors saw photos of gashes and bruises on her body and watched the infamous Intercontinental hotel security footage which appears to show Mr Combs beating her and dragging her by her hair.
Mr Combs’ attorney questioned her about her drug abuse at the time and text messages where she appears to express excitement or desire for “freak offs”. Ms Ventura maintained that she was forced.
The encounters took over her life, she said. “It made me feel worthless,” she told the court. “Freak-offs became a job where there was no space to do anything else but to recover and just try to feel normal again.”
Ms Ventura also filed an individual lawsuit against the rapper in 2023, which was settled for $20 million.
The other alleged victim that prosecutors brought to the stand was a woman using the pseudonym “Jane”. She dated Mr Combs from 2021 to 2024, up until the hip-hop mogul was arrested.
Some of Jane’s testimony was similar to Ms Ventura’s. She described participating in “hotel nights”, where she would have sex with one or more escorts over periods as long as three days while Mr Combs watched.
The defendant, to this day, pays for Jane’s house as well as her attorneys, she testified. She told the court saying no to him would have meant losing that.
She said she was coerced to perform even when she had UTIs, had just thrown up, and once after he had choked and assaulted her.
Jane also testified Combs flew escorts across state lines or to other countries for hotel nights.
The defence pushed back, calling the nights consensual and showing the jury messages where she appears to plan or ask for the encounters herself.
Jane responded by saying she was trying to retain some “control” of what happened and that she just wanted to be with her “lover”.
In another multi-day examination, anonymous witness “Mia” alleged that Combs physically and sexually assaulted her during the eight years she worked as his personal assistant.
She alleged to the court the defendant slammed her arm in a bathroom door, threw things at her, stole her phone, forced her to take drugs, raped her and held her forcibly in his home.
“I couldn’t tell him no about a sandwich,” she said. “I couldn’t tell him no about anything.”
Mia alleged that she witnessed Mr Combs’ anger and violence toward the R&B singer on several occasions.
Scott Mescudi, known by stage name Kid Cudi, was by far the witness with the most star power.
Mr Mescudi said he dated Ms Ventura in 2011 when she and Mr Combs were broken up. He told the court about two incidents after Mr Combs found out about their relationship: There was a break-in at his home and his Porsche was destroyed by a Molotov cocktail.
Mr Mescudi accused Combs in both incidents, though the defence maintains he was not involved at all.
Several of Combs’ former employees took the stand, describing extreme hours and bizarre responsibilities.
Former assistant David James said Combs was like a “king” and that he often made staff work 20-hour days, six days a week.
Once, Mr James said he and a security guard ran into rival mogul Suge Knight at a diner in LA. When they went back to Mr Combs’ house and told him, the defendant allegedly demanded they go confront Mr Knight – with three guns in tow. Mr Knight had already left though, Mr Ja
Content adapted by the team from the original source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj3rmypl8d1o
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