WNYUZ
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • World
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Tech
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • World
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Tech
No Result
View All Result
WNYUZ
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Pop singer to testify to abuse in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex trafficking trial

May 19, 2025
in News
Yahoo news home
491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Jack Queen

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Pop singer Dawn Richard was set to return to the witness stand in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial on Monday, after telling a jury last week that she saw the hip-hop mogul physically and emotionally abuse his then-girlfriend for years.

Richard, a former member of the pop group Danity Kane, described an incident at Combs’ Los Angeles home in 2009 when she said Combs beat his then-girlfriend Casandra Ventura and dragged her upstairs by the hair. Richard then said she heard breaking glass and screaming.

Richard testified Combs called her and others who witnessed the alleged assault into the studio the next day, gave them flowers and said their careers would be harmed if they reported the incident.

Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to five felony counts of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs has been held since September in a Brooklyn jail when not in court. If convicted on all counts, he could face 15 years to life in prison.

The 38-year-old Ventura, a rhythm and blues singer known as Cassie, said over four days of testimony last week that Combs coerced and blackmailed her into taking part in days of drug-fueled sex parties he called “Freak Offs,” which are at the heart of the prosecution’s case.

Ventura, the prosecution’s star witness, said she suffered years of physical and emotional abuse during their tumultuous relationship.

Ventura, who is in a late stage of pregnancy with her third child and completed her testimony last week, told jurors Combs raped her in August 2018 at her home after they broke up.

“I just remember crying and saying no but it was very fast,” she said last week, as her voice trailed off.

A lawyer representing Combs on Friday sought to undercut Ventura’s rape claim, showing jurors text messages indicating Ventura had consensual sex with Combs a month after the alleged rape.

The trial in Manhattan federal court, which has drawn intense media coverage because of Combs’ wealth and towering influence in the music industry, could last up to two months.

Combs, previously known as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, founded Bad Boy Records, and is credited with helping turn artists like Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, Notorious B.I.G. and Usher into stars in the 1990s and 2000s.

Part of the criminal case stems from Ventura’s November 2023 civil lawsuit against Combs. She testified that he agreed after 24 hours to settle for $20 million.

Richard has filed a civil lawsuit against Combs alleging he subjected her to inhumane working conditions, including groping and assaulting her. The lawsuit says Richard saw Combs brutally beat Ventura on many occasions.

(Reporting by Jack Queen in New York; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

The post Pop singer to testify to abuse in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex trafficking trial appeared first on Reuters.

Tags: Casandra VenturaReutersSean “Diddy” Combssex traffickingYahooYahoo News
Share196Tweet123Share
OPEC+ set for another oil hike as Saudi and Russia debate size, sources say
News

OPEC+ set for another oil hike as Saudi and Russia debate size, sources say

October 3, 2025

By Ahmad Ghaddar and Olesya Astakhova LONDON/MOSCOW (Reuters) -Eight OPEC+ countries are likely to further raise oil output on Sunday ...

Read more
News

Ford CEO says his Gen Z son worked as a mechanic and wondered if the 4-year degree was still worth it

October 3, 2025
News

UnitedHealth to exit Medicare Advantage plans in 109 US counties

October 3, 2025
News

Microsoft names CEO to run commercial business, Nadella to focus on tech

October 3, 2025
News

BOJ’s Ueda warns of global uncertainty, keep markets guessing on next hike

October 3, 2025
Lyft CEO says Bill Gates told him leaving Microsoft for Amazon when it was still a startup was ‘the stupidest decision I’ve ever heard anyone made’

Lyft CEO says Bill Gates told him leaving Microsoft for Amazon when it was still a startup was ‘the stupidest decision I’ve ever heard anyone made’

October 2, 2025
Gold slips from record peak after Fed Logan’s comments

Gold slips from record peak after Fed Logan’s comments

October 2, 2025
White House Floats New Rules For Colleges to Get Funding Edge

White House Floats New Rules For Colleges to Get Funding Edge

October 2, 2025

© 2025 WNyuz.com

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • World
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Tech

© 2025 WNyuz.com