Cassie Details “Physical Abuse and Dragging” in Emotional Testimony During Sean “Diddy” Combs Trial

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On Tuesday, Cassie, the ex-girlfriend and R&B singer of Sean “Diddy” Combs, testified in his sex trafficking trial. This came a day after prosecutors presented the jury with a video showing an incident in which Diddy physically assaulted her at a hotel in 2016.

The trial proceedings commenced on Monday, with prosecutors informing the jury that for quite some time, Combs allegedly exploited his position as a high-ranking executive to force women into harmful sexual situations against their will. If they resisted, he reportedly turned violent.

On the witness stand, Cassie, visibly pregnant, appeared emotional right from the beginning. She frequently took deep breaths and occasionally paused while speaking.

Cassie, clearly expecting a child, showed emotion from the outset on the witness stand. She would often take deep breaths and sometimes pause as she spoke.

Or:

In her pregnant state, Cassie was emotional throughout her time on the witness stand. She took regular deep breaths and occasionally paused during her testimony.

When asked about “freak-offs,” she stated that she was just 22 years old when Combs initially requested her to perform them. She explained that she felt both confused and anxious, yet she held a deep affection for him at the same time.

Cassie recalled feeling a sudden sensation of her stomach dropping when Diddy first suggested the “freak-off,” with a mix of apprehension and bewilderment washing over her at that time.

She explained that she felt unable to refuse Combs since she wasn’t aware of the consequences a “no” might bring, as she later realized it could lead to violent threats and extortion attempts.

Cassie shared that Sean had significant influence over many aspects of her life, including her career and personal style. At that point, she admitted, she didn’t have much control or decision-making power.

Cassie described ‘extravagant gatherings’ as private sexual events, which allegedly originated from Diddy’s curiosity about peeping. These occasions involved hiring escorts to create a scene where she could entertain Sean Combs.

In the well-known 2016 hotel CCTV footage that later became notorious, Cassie stated before the argument began: “We were engaging in something known as a ‘freak-off’, and I was about to leave.

Emily Johnson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, began questioning Cassie by asking about her age (38) and profession, to which she responded as a “musician” or “entertainer.” She also mentioned that she had been in a relationship with Combs for more than a decade.

As a gamer, I’d put it this way: My bond with Combs was a rollercoaster ride, filled with fun moments, heated disagreements, and even some intense clashes.

Cassie explained to the jury that if the disagreements were heated, they often led to some form of physical violence or other forms of harm.

She stated under oath that Combs would forcefully push her head, pull her along, kick her, and step on her head when she was on the ground.

Asked how frequently Combs became violent with her, Cassie softly responded: “Too frequently.”

The judge decided that Alex Fine, her husband, is allowed to attend the courtroom during most of her testimony, but not for every part of it.

At the court’s request from the defense, Judge Arun Subramanian instructed Fine to step out of the courtroom during discussions about Cassie’s claim that Combs sexually assaulted her in 2018. This is because Combs’ legal team might need Fine as a potential witness later in the trial to challenge Cassie’s accusation.

Prosecutors contended that Fine plays a crucial role as an emotional ally for Cassie, who’s expecting their third baby, making it essential for him to be present during her testimony.

Cassie, set to testify on Tuesday as a crucial prosecution witness, initially encountered Diddy (Combs) in the year 2005 when she was 19 while he was 37. Later, Diddy signed her onto his Bad Boy Records label, and before long, they began dating.

In her 2023 court case, Cassie claims that Combs subjected her to a prolonged cycle of abuse, violence, and human trafficking for over a decade. This alleged abuse included instances of rape and compelling her to perform sexual acts with male sex workers. The following day, Combs resolved the lawsuit through a settlement.

Cassie claims that Diddy assaulted her on multiple occasions, including an instance where he is said to have raped her as she attempted to leave him. Furthermore, she alleges that he frequently attacked her physically, causing injuries such as bruises, split lips, black eyes, and nosebleeds. In addition, she claims that Diddy was involved in the explosion of rival rapper Kid Cudi’s car after finding out about Cudi’s romantic feelings towards her. Lastly, she alleges that Diddy brandished guns and fled his home when he learned that Suge Knight, a competing music producer, was dining at a nearby restaurant.

On Tuesday, the court hearing additionally featured Cassie’s male stripper accuser, Daniel Philip, being questioned by Diddy’s legal representative about allegations that he received payment for sexual encounters involving Cassie, which Diddy reportedly observed.

Lawyer Xavier Donaldson highlighted statements made by Philip in previous discussions with federal investigators as a means to demonstrate potential inconsistencies in his account of the events. After completing his cross-examination, Donaldson hinted that Philip may have harbored romantic feelings for Cassie and desired to separate her from Combs. However, Philip refuted this notion but acknowledged: “I was drawn to her. If given the opportunity to date her, I would have, without a doubt.

After wrapping up, a prosecutor grilled me further, emphasizing my previous statement that Combs was the one guiding our intimate actions with Cassie as a fellow gamer might say, “Following the round, the attorney pressed me harder, highlighting my past remarks about Combs leading our romantic dance with Cassie.

Previously, Subramanian expressed concerns about whether sexually explicit materials planned to be displayed during Cassie’s testimony to the jury would also be visible to journalists in court.

He mentioned that many matters were previously dealt with under confidentiality prior to the trial, but since we’re now in court, “there’s an increased focus on freedom of speech as protected by the First Amendment.

In a debate over whether adult content videos could be accessible to media professionals, lawyer Robert Balin stated to the judge on behalf of media entities that news corporations had no intention of reporting sensational or scandalous material, and they also made clear they didn’t require copies of the presented exhibits.

Additionally, he proposed another option where a team of pool reporters might be granted access to observe the exhibits.

Attorney Emily Johnson, on behalf of the United States, contended that these sexually explicit videos should not be disclosed to the media, as there are solid legal reasons for keeping such content out of the public domain.

Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, stated that these videos were undeniably of an explicit and adult nature. He explained that each video depicted individuals engaging in or preparing for sexual acts while unclothed.

In the name of media organizations, Balin informed the judge that the First Amendment is at its peak relevance in cases like this and emphasized the necessity for people to witness justice being served through the press. He stated that the most compelling proof regarding whether the alleged sexual acts were non-consensual (as prosecutors claim) lies within the videos themselves.

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2025-05-13 18:55