Diddy trial latest: Jury sent home for the day following Dawn Richard testimony
Cassie continues testimony in Diddy trial
The judge has tried to clear the way for jurors to be brought in on time for what was hoped to be Cassie’s last day on the witness stand. Jacqueline Goodman, a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney joined LiveNOW from FOX's Josh Breslow with analysis of the trial.
NEW YORK - Following four days of testimony from R&B singer Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura in Sean "Diddy" Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial, singer Dawn Richard took the witness stand on Friday.
Richard went into detail about an alleged incident in 2009 that she witnessed while inside Combs' home where she said she saw Combs try to hit Cassie in the head with a black skillet and physically attacked her.
Singer Dawn Richard testimony
Singer Dawn Richard took the witness stand on Friday following R&B singer Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura's testimony.
Richard said she witnessed Combs physically attack Cassie on multiple occasions.
Richard said she was present for a 2009 incident inside Combs' home when "he came downstairs screaming" and "proceeded to hit her on the head and beat her on the ground in front of us."
What they're saying:
Richard said that Combs tried to hit Cassie in the head with a black skillet during the 2009 incident.
"He started to punch and kick her ... body and her head," Richard said. She said Combs then put his arm around her neck and his hand on her head and dragged her up the stairs.
"I was scared for her and scared to do anything, Richard said. She said she didn’t try to intervene and didn’t call the police, in part because "I had never seen anything like that before."
What's next:
Following an objection and a discussion at sidebar, the judge decided to send the jury home for the day.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey said as lawyers spoke with the judge after the jury left for the day that the government is on pace to finish presenting its case within six weeks.
More text messages read aloud
Dig deeper:
During her cross-examination on Friday, Cassie shared a text message she sent to Combs after he beat her at a Los Angeles, California, hotel in 2016, saying "I’m not a rag doll. I’m somebody’s child."
However, as they tried to recover from the episode, she and Combs were expressing love for each other just days later, with Cassie writing in one text: "We need a different vibe from Friday."
In the "rag doll" text, Cassie told Combs he was out of control from drugs and alcohol that day. After hotel security video of the assault was released last year, Combs apologized and said he was "disgusted" by his actions.
Trial day five sketch by Jane Rosenberg
She read more messages that showed her apparent willingness to participate in sexual encounters with Combs.
In a 2012 exchange, Combs told Cassie he wanted to "FO one last time tonight," using initials for freak-off. Cassie replied, "What?" Combs said, "You can’t read?" Then Cassie replied, "I don’t want to freak off for the last time. I want it to be the first time for the rest of our lives."
Cassie testified she was initially open to the encounters because she wanted to make him happy and spend time with him, but grew weary as the years went on.
Trial day four sketch by Jane Rosenberg
2018 rape claim
Combs’ lawyers also raised questions on Friday about Cassie's rape claim against him, noting that Cassie gave differing descriptions of his demeanor and the timing of the alleged assault in interviews with investigators and in her trial testimony.
The backstory:
Cassie contends the rape happened at her Los Angeles home after she and Combs had dinner in Malibu, California, to discuss their breakup, either in August or September 2018.
While Cassie testified this week that Combs was "really nice" and "playful" at the dinner, the defense pointed out that Cassie told investigators in 2023 that Combs had been "acting very strangely" that night.
Cassie also testified this week that Combs, during the dinner, was trying to get her to go to the Burning Man festival in Nevada, but previously told investigators that the dinner and rape happened after Combs returned from Burning Man.
Cassie acknowledged she stayed in touch with Combs and had consensual sex with him a few weeks after she says he raped her. She also exchanged warm messages with Combs after they broke up, even after she married Alex Fine in 2019.
Her testimony ended with another bombshell: She said she expects a $10 million settlement from the Los Angeles hotel where Combs assaulted her in 2016.
Cassie’s husband releases statement
Fine, issued a heartfelt statement praising her strength and resilience.
What they're saying:
"Over the past five days, the world has gotten to witness the strength and bravery of my wife, freeing herself of her past," he said.
Addressing speculation about his feelings during the testimony, Fine shared, "I have felt tremendous pride and overwhelming love for Cass. I have felt profound anger that she has been subjected to sitting in front of a person who tried to break her."
He added, "You did not break her spirit, nor her smile that lights up every room. You did not break the soul of a mother who gives the best hugs and plays the silliest games with our little girls." Emphasizing Cassie’s courage, Fine stated, "I did not save Cassie… Cassie saved Cassie. She alone broke free from abuse, coercion, violence, and threats."'
"We appreciate all of the love and support we have received, and we ask that you respect our privacy as we welcome our son into a world that is now safer because of his mom," Fine said.
Follow along with live updates from FOX 5 NY here. Because the trial is in federal court, a livestream is not available.
The Source: Information in this article was taken from what happened on the first four days of the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs, as reported by WNYW FOX 5 New York and The Associated Press. This story was reported from Los Angeles.