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R&B singer Cassie stated Sean “Diddy” Combs’ infidelity was a painful a part of their flamable, almost 11-year relationship, because the music mogul’s protection crew started cross-examination of the prosecution’s begin witness on Thursday in his intercourse trafficking trial.
It was the third day on the stand for the 38-year-old Cassie after two days of questioning by prosecutors in a Manhattan courtroom. She testified Wednesday that Combs raped her when she broke up with him in 2018, after he locked her into a lifetime of bodily abuse by threatening to launch degrading sexual movies of her.
Prosecutors accuse Combs of exploiting his standing as a robust music government and entrepreneur to violently drive Cassie and different girls to participate in sexual encounters. He’s charged with crimes together with racketeering and intercourse trafficking by drive, fraud or coercion. A number of different accusers are set to testify.
Combs denies the allegations and has pleaded not responsible. His attorneys acknowledge he might be violent, however say the intercourse he and others engaged in was consensual and that nothing he did amounted to a prison enterprise.
Protection legal professional Anna Estevao started by questioning Cassie in a mild tone of voice — notable as a result of so many cross-examinations start with efforts to unsettle or agitate a witness. Estevao’s strategy was the other.
“You and Sean Combs were in love for 11 years. You loved him and believed that he loved you as well,” Estevao stated. The legal professional stated Cassie’s love defined, “Why it hurt so badly when he lied. … When he cheated on you.” Cassie responded “Yes” to each.
Combs appeared relaxed as cross-examination received underway, sitting again in his chair together with his legs crossed and conferring together with his legal professional Marc Agnifilo.
The primary reveals launched by Estevao have been messages between Combs and Cassie within the early years of their relationship. In April 2010, Cassie advised Combs: “Going to sleep now so it can be tomorrow faster and you can be home. Love you!!!” Combs replied: “Love my baby.”
The testimony stood in distinction to the violence, worry and “disgusting” intercourse acts Cassie testified about in her first days on the stand. Early Thursday, the choose denied a request by protection legal professionals to introduce textual content communications between Combs and Cassie that would come with references to particular sexual acts.
Protection legal professionals have indicated that the cross-examination will doubtless be completed by the tip of Friday’s courtroom session.
Cassie has held up effectively over two days of direct questioning by prosecutors. She cried a number of instances however for essentially the most half has remained composed and matter-of-fact as she talked about a few of the most delicate topics possible, in a courtroom filled with household and buddies of Combs, journalists and one row of spectator seats occupied by Cassie’s supporters. She is within the third trimester of being pregnant along with her third baby.
Cassie stated Wednesday that Combs pressured his means into her Los Angeles residence and raped her on the lounge flooring after she stated she was ending their relationship.
Cassie additionally stated she did not really feel she may refuse Combs’ calls for for her to have “hundreds” of encounters with male intercourse employees — which he watched and managed for hours and even days — as a result of he would make her “seem like a slut” if he made the movies public.
“I feared for my profession. I feared for my household. It’s simply embarrassing. It’s horrible and disgusting. Nobody ought to do this to anybody,” stated Cassie, whose authorized identify is Casandra Ventura.
She sued Combs in 2023, accusing him of years of bodily and sexual abuse. Inside hours, the go well with was settled for $20 million — a determine Cassie disclosed for the primary time Wednesday — however dozens of comparable authorized claims adopted from different girls.
Combs, 55, has been jailed since September. He faces not less than 15 years in jail if convicted. The trial is predicted to final about two months.
For those who or somebody is experiencing home violence, contact the Nationwide Home Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting www.thehotline.org or texting LOVEIS to 22522.
Assets for victims of sexual assault can be found by means of the Nationwide Sexual Violence Assets Heart and the Nationwide Sexual Assault Phone Hotline at 800-656-4673.
