Sean Combs’ ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura, known as Cassie, offered harrowing testimony in a federal trial, accusing the music mogul of repeated physical abuse and coercion.
Rhythm and blues singer Casandra Ventura, widely known as Cassie, testified on Tuesday in the federal sex trafficking trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs, describing years of abuse and exploitation. Taking the stand as the prosecution’s key witness, she detailed how Combs allegedly beat her frequently, leaving her bruised and battered.
“He would bash my head, knock me over, drag me, kick me, stomp me in the head if I was down,” Ventura said, her voice trembling. Dressed in a brown outfit and visibly pregnant, she told jurors the violence was constant, calling it “too frequent” to count.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to five felony counts, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. A conviction could lead to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and possibly life in prison.
Prosecutors accuse Combs of manipulating women into relationships, coercing them into drug-fuelled sex parties—labelled "Freak Offs"—and recording the encounters to later use as blackmail. When women resisted, they say, he responded with violence.
During her testimony, Ventura said she participated in the parties out of fear. “I was confused and nervous but I also loved him very much and wanted to make him happy,” she added.
Combs’ defence, led by attorney Teny Geragos, has argued that the charges unfairly criminalise his consensual “swingers” lifestyle. Geragos acknowledged Combs’ past jealousy and temper issues but insisted these were unrelated to the allegations. “Domestic violence is not sex trafficking,” she told the jury. “He is not charged with being a flawed individual.”
Prosecutors also introduced a surveillance video from a Los Angeles hotel in 2016, showing Combs physically assaulting Ventura in a hallway. The footage, in which Combs appears to throw her to the ground and kick her, surfaced last year and prompted public condemnation.
Combs’ legal team contends the incident followed an argument over infidelity and claims Ventura has her own history of domestic disputes, suggesting an effort to challenge her credibility.
The trial, expected to last two months, will include testimonies from Ventura, other alleged victims, and former employees who prosecutors say assisted in orchestrating and concealing the abuse. Prosecutor Emily Johnson told the jury that victims would speak of being drugged, forced into humiliating situations, and subjected to Combs’ violent outbursts.
The defence maintains that all interactions were between consenting adults and that the case misrepresents the nature of Combs’ private relationships.
Sean "Diddy" Combs is due to be arraigned in Manhattan federal court on Friday after a new indictment added allegations of forced labour in connection with his long-running sex trafficking scheme. Combs faces charges related to racketeering, sex trafficking, and the coercion of employees to work und
Anthony Ricco, one of Sean "Diddy" Combs' defense attorneys, has filed to step down from the legal team ahead of his upcoming human trafficking trial, citing an inability to continue effectively representing the hip-hop mogul.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs is now facing new charges of sex trafficking involving at least three women as part of a 20-year abuse scheme. The updated indictment adds new allegations of forced sexual performances and the transportation of victims across state lines
Following a two-hour hearing in Manhattan federal court, Judge Arun Subramanian stated he would make a decision "promptly." Combs has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center for 10 weeks.
P Diddy faces six new sexual abuse lawsuits, including claims involving a minor, filed just a month after his criminal charges for serious offenses. Combs has denied all allegations, with a trial set for May 2025.
At least 20 people were killed and more than 50 injured after a suicide bomber attacked a church in central Damascus, Syria’s capital, on Sunday, officials confirmed.
U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities have drawn calls for restraint and diplomacy from global leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Israel is nearing its objective of eliminating Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear capabilities, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, vowing to continue the campaign until those threats are neutralised.
The U.N. Security Council met on Sunday after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, as Russia, China and Pakistan proposed a resolution urging an immediate Middle East ceasefire, raising tensions over the legality and fallout of Western military action.
The U.S. maintains a broad military presence across the Middle East, reflecting long-standing strategic interests and evolving regional dynamics.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
The USS Nimitz is heading to the Middle East amid tensions between Israel and Iran. The U.S. aircraft carrier has a decades-long history in the region, from the 1979 hostage crisis to modern deployments, often serving as a key asset during periods of rising friction with Iran.
Scarlett Johansson recalls how the original “Jurassic Park” deeply influenced her childhood as she premieres her role in “Jurassic World: Rebirth,” set to release on 2 July.
Dua Lipa has announced her engagement to British actor Callum Turner, calling the decision to grow old together “a really special feeling.”
Azerbaijan's capital of Baku will become a focal point of the international music scene from the 14 to the 28 June as it hosts the 4th Baku Piano Festival.
Liam Payne's final onscreen appearance will air next month as part of a Netflix series, following the approval of his family who reviewed the content and supported his involvement in the music competition.
The fragile genius behind "Good Vibrations," "California Girls," and the revolutionary "Pet Sounds" album has passed away, his family confirmed. Wilson's intricate arrangements and poignant melodies made him one of the most influential recording artists in history.
At least 20 people were killed and more than 50 injured after a suicide bomber attacked a church in central Damascus, Syria’s capital, on Sunday, officials confirmed.
U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities have drawn calls for restraint and diplomacy from global leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Israel is nearing its objective of eliminating Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear capabilities, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, vowing to continue the campaign until those threats are neutralised.
The U.N. Security Council met on Sunday after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, as Russia, China and Pakistan proposed a resolution urging an immediate Middle East ceasefire, raising tensions over the legality and fallout of Western military action.
The U.S. maintains a broad military presence across the Middle East, reflecting long-standing strategic interests and evolving regional dynamics.
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