R&B singer Cassie delved additional into textual content messages with former boyfriend Sean “Diddy” Combs throughout her cross-examination Friday within the music mogul’s intercourse trafficking trial, saying she advised him “I’m not a rag doll. I’m any person’s baby” after he beat her at a Los Angeles lodge in 2016.
However, as they tried to get well from the episode, she and Combs had been expressing love for one another simply days later, with Cassie writing in a single textual content: “We need a different vibe from Friday.” She and one among Combs’ protection attorneys learn the couple’s messages aloud throughout two days of cross-examination in a Manhattan courtroom.
In the “rag doll” textual content, Cassie, whose authorized identify is Casandra Ventura, advised Combs he was uncontrolled from medication and alcohol that day. After lodge safety video of the assault was launched final yr, Combs apologized and mentioned he was “disgusted” by his actions.
Before the protection ended its cross-examination on Friday afternoon, it additionally tried to discredit Cassie’s testimony that Combs raped her in 2018 after she ended their practically 11-year relationship.
Federal prosecutors allege Combs exploited his standing as a music govt and businessman to pressure ladies into drug-fueled encounters with male intercourse staff, known as “freak-offs,” that he watched and directed. Cassie is one among a number of accusers anticipated to testify on the trial.
However, Combs’ attorneys need the jury to see Cassie as a prepared and keen participant in his sexual way of life. He has pleaded not responsible to federal intercourse trafficking and racketeering fees. His protection says that, though he might be violent, nothing he did amounted to a prison enterprise. And Combs insists all of the intercourse on the freak-offs was consensual.
Cassie, the prosecution’s star witness, testified she turned ashamed and loathed participating in “hundreds” of these encounters, which may go on for days. But she mentioned she felt compelled as a result of Combs threatened her with violence, and was bodily abusive “a lot” in the course of the freak-offs. He additionally threatened to publicly launch intercourse movies of her if she made him offended, she mentioned.
Combs, 55, has been jailed since September. He faces not less than 15 years in jail if convicted.
Cassie, who’s pregnant together with her third baby and nearing her due date, spent 4 days on the witness stand. Combs’ attorneys had her learn texts showing to indicate her enthusiasm for the sexual encounters.
Cassie mentioned she was initially open to the thought of letting Combs watch her have intercourse with strangers as a result of she needed to make him pleased and spend time with him, however she grew weary of the encounters because the years went on.
In a 2012 change, Combs advised Cassie he needed to “FO one last time tonight,” utilizing initials for freak-off. Cassie replied, “What?” Then Combs mentioned, “You can’t read?” Cassie replied, “I don’t need to freak off for the final time. I would like it to be the primary time for the remainder of our lives.”
Estevao ended her questioning there, however prosecutor Emily Johnson then had Cassie learn extra of the messages to supply extra context.
“I want to see you, but I’m emotional right now,” Cassie wrote Combs. “I don’t want to do one last time. I’d rather not do it at all.”
Cassie learn different texts on Thursday displaying her willingness to take part within the sexual encounters.
The Associated Press doesn’t sometimes identify individuals who say they’ve been sexually abused except they arrive ahead publicly, as Cassie has.
Cassie filed a lawsuit in 2023 accusing Combs of bodily and sexual abuse, however they settled inside hours for $20 million — an quantity she disclosed publicly for the primary time this week. Dozens of different ladies have since made related authorized claims.
Estevao additionally raised questions on Friday about Cassie’s rape declare towards Combs, 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.
Cassie contends the rape occurred at her Los Angeles dwelling after she and Combs had dinner in Malibu, California, to debate their breakup, both in August or September 2018.
While Cassie testified this week that Combs was “really nice” and “playful” on the dinner, Estevao identified that Cassie advised investigators in 2023 that Combs had been “acting very strangely” that evening. Cassie clarified, “Nice, however unusually.”
Cassie additionally testified this week that Combs, in the course of the dinner, was making an attempt to get her to go to the Burning Man pageant in Nevada, however beforehand advised investigators that the dinner and rape occurred after Combs returned from Burning Man.
Cassie acknowledged she stayed in contact with Combs and had consensual intercourse with him a number of weeks after she says he raped her. She additionally exchanged heat messages with Combs after they broke up, even after she marrying Alex Fine in 2019.
Jurors on Friday heard a 2013 recording of Cassie demanding a buddy present her a intercourse video he mentioned he’d seen, and threatening to kill him if it turned public.
“I’ve never killed anyone in my life, but I will kill you,” Cassie advised the person, punctuating her threats with profanity. She testified that Combs later made efforts to maintain the video non-public.
Estevao additionally questioned Cassie about her weeks-long stint in a remedy middle for girls in 2023. Estevao famous the middle supplied remedy for intercourse dependancy, sexual compulsion and love dependancy, and he or she requested Cassie if she was handled for any of these issues.
Cassie replied that she was not, however moderately was there for remedy to assist her course of trauma. She testified earlier that she skilled post-traumatic stress dysfunction earlier than breaking apart with Combs in 2018, and was blacking out and sleepwalking. She additionally mentioned she broke down in 2023 and tried to stroll into site visitors outdoors her dwelling, however her husband stopped her.
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