R&B singer Cassie, Sean "Diddy" Combs' former girlfriend, testified in his sex trafficking trial on Tuesday, detailing years of abuse and sexual exploitation. This comes a day after video evidence surfaced showing Combs assaulting her in a 2016 hotel incident.
Cassie, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, is a key witness in the prosecution's case. They aim to depict Combs as using his power to create an exploitative environment, coercing women into abusive sex parties and resorting to violence when they refused.
Combs' legal team argues that while he may have been violent, his actions did not constitute sex trafficking or racketeering. They maintain that any sexual acts were consensual. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty and faces a potential sentence of 15 years to life if convicted.
Cassie's testimony described a relationship marked by both positive moments and violent altercations. She met Combs in 2005 when she was 19 and he was 37. He signed her to his Bad Boy Records label, and they began dating soon after.
"If they were violent arguments, it would usually result in some sort of physical abuse and dragging, just different things," Cassie testified. She recounted instances where Combs would "mash me in the head, knock me over, drag me, kick me. Stomp me in the head if I was down," causing bruises and black eyes.
Cassie also described feeling pressured to participate in "freak offs" due to fears of blackmail and violence. She stated that the possibility of compromising videos being released online was a constant worry. She described Combs as a "polarizing person, also really charming," making it difficult to refuse his demands.
The 2016 hotel surveillance video, showing Combs assaulting Cassie, was presented as key evidence. A former hotel security officer testified that Combs offered him money to remain silent after witnessing the aftermath of the assault. The trial continues with further testimonies and evidence presentation.