The trial in opposition to Sean “Diddy” Combs on expenses of intercourse trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to have interaction in prostitution began on Monday, and already there are stunning claims being introduced in opposition to the hip-hop mogul.
Because the trial in opposition to Sean “Diddy” Combs started in New York Metropolis on Monday, Could 12, the hip-hop mogul maintained his innocence in opposition to expenses of intercourse trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to have interaction in prostitution.
If convicted on all expenses, which additionally embody arson and bribery, Combs might face a compulsory 15 yr jail sentence, with the opportunity of life behind bars.
Because the prosecution argues coercion, the protection is countering with consent. However either side agreed that to be able to unravel the case, there can be a variety of witnesses and a variety of stunning particulars about Combs’ sexual proclivities.

Getty
Diddy’s Twin Daughters Replicate on Lack of Mother Kim Porter Forward of His Intercourse Crimes Trial
View Story
DAY ONE
First Witness: Cassie Video
After opening statements on Monday, the prosecution wasted no time in laying the groundwork for his or her bigger case in opposition to Combs. It begins with the viral video of ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura’s assault captured on lodge safety footage in 2016.
So as to add context to the video, the prosecution known as Los Angeles Police Division Workplace Israel Florez, who was working as assistant safety director on the InterContinental Lodge in Century Metropolis. In line with Florez on the stand, he was the the one who responded to a “lady in misery” name that day.
Florez described the scene on the sixth flooring when he stepped off the elevator, as detailed by CNN and ABC7, he mentioned he noticed each Combs and Ventura and shortly acknowledged Combs, who he mentioned was “in a towel and a few socks.”

Getty
Each Celeb Who Has Spoken Out About Diddy Allegations & His Wild Events
View Story
Combs hit Florez with “a devlish stare,” per his testimony. “He was simply taking a look at me,” he claimed. As for Ventura, he mentioned that she seemed scared and had her hoodie pulled up. “She was just about simply coated up. I could not see her face. She was just about within the nook,” he mentioned.
He additionally seen the flower vase that decorates the hallway was destroyed. Within the video performed for the jury, Combs might be seen grabbing Ventura as she dug by means of a bag by the elevators and starting to tug her again to their room.
Quickly after, Ventura seems once more on digital camera utilizing a cellphone on the wall, which Florez mentioned is what contacted him to reply. Within the reflection of a mirrored wall within the footage, Combs might be seen pacing within the towel after which throws the vase that Florez described, shattering it.
Florez mentioned that Ventura advised him she simply needed to get her cellphone and bag so she might go away. He testified that Combs advised her, “You are not going to depart.” Florez mentioned he advised Combs that she might go away if she needed.
He mentioned he escorted the couple again to their room and stood with the door open whereas Florez grabbed her issues. He testified that there was one other man within the room “sitting on the nook of the mattress,” however that he didn’t have interaction within the state of affairs in any respect.
After Ventura left the room, Florez testified that Combs “was just about holding a sack of cash and he mentioned, ‘right here handle this for me, do not inform anybody.'” He acknowledged that he declined the cash, including that the harm to the lodge can be mirrored on their invoice.

Dimitri Halkidis
Aubrey O’Day Talks Diddy Allegations, Desires ‘Systemic’ Change In Music Business (Unique)
View Story
Ventura is seen in safety footage not earlier than launched strolling out of the room and down the corridor. Florez adopted shortly behind. He mentioned he later seen Ventura had a “purple eye.” Florez mentioned when he tried to speak with Ventura, she didn’t reply to his questions, simply saying, “I need to go away, I simply need to go away.”
He mentioned he returned to the room with one other safety guard to remind Combs of the lodge guidelines, alleging that the rapper opened his door and grabbed the opposite guard’s cellphone, asking if he was recording. Florez claimed he pinned Combs to the wall and demanded he return the cellphone
Florez mentioned that he didn’t file a police report on the time as a result of nobody needed to press expenses. He additionally mentioned that he didn’t see the total surveillance footage of the altercation within the hallway till in any case events had left the lodge.
The protection cross-examined Florez, calling out his description of a “devilish stare” from Combs as not a element he put in his official report of the incident. He additionally did not point out an extra man within the lodge room or something about Ventura having a discolored eye.
Florez mentioned of the look, “It was my opinion however not a part of the incident so not within the report.” He mentioned that Combs was calm and cooperative all through his encounter with him as why he didn’t name for help on the matter.
The protection famous that within the incident report, Florez wrote of Combs that he “grabbed his hand and advised him to again off,” however didn’t say he “pinned” him to a wall.

Getty
Wendy Williams Breaks Silence Over Diddy Intercourse Trafficking Allegations: ‘It Is About Time’
View Story
Protection Opening Assertion
Combs’ protection group acknowledged that he might have sure unorthodox sexual pursuits, calling him “difficult.” They argue that he could also be violent and have a mood — particularly when consuming or doing medication — and even come throughout as a “imply” individual, however he’s not on trial for these items.
Within the opening statements, protection lawyer Teny Geragos mentioned the federal government has no enterprise scrutinizing Combs’ bed room habits, in keeping with TMZ’s ongoing protection. She mentioned this case is about “love, jealousy and grownup selections.”
He’s “not charged with being imply, he is not charged with being a jerk,” she insisted.
On the similar time, the protection acknowledged that Combs is “very flawed” and that there was home violence within the case of Cassie Ventura, and that he’ll take accountability for a few of his actions, as warranted, all through the trial.
Geragos mentioned in courtroom, per ABC7, “What he understood was that [Ventura] was a keen participant of their intercourse life.” She claims that Ventura is motivated by cash in bringing this case ahead.
“Home violence will not be intercourse trafficking,” she argued, whereas additionally calling the viral video from 2016 of Combs assault Ventura “indefensible.”
Geragos went on to explain the connection between Combs and “Jane” as “poisonous” and “dysfunctional,” however asserted that she, too, was a consensual participant in all sexual exercise: “Being a keen participant in your personal intercourse life will not be intercourse trafficking.”
“You aren’t right here to guage him for his sexual preferences,” Geragos advised the jury of 12, describing Combs as dwelling a “swingers’ way of life.” She argues the ladies have been all concerned with Diddy consensually as adults, and have been getting a variety of advantages by means of these relationships.

Getty
Cassie’s Songwriter Remembers Tense Moments Between Diddy and Cassie: ‘One thing Is Incorrect’
View Story
Prosecution Opening Argument
In the meantime, the prosecution laid out a narrative of “freak offs” that concerned compelled intercourse with male escorts, with Diddy watching, and different behaviors. They threw out phrases like kidnapping, arson, drug distribution, intercourse crimes, bribery, and obstruction.
They argued that Combs was aided and abetted by an internal circle that helped him perpetuate “crime after crime” over a span of years, with Combs on the middle. He “known as himself the king and anticipated to be handled like one,” mentioned prosecutor Emily Johnson.
Prosecutors mentioned that their case will primarily give attention to two girls, the aforementioned Cassie Ventura and one other lady who has chosen to stay nameless — she will likely be known as Jane all through the trial.
Throughout his two-year relationship with Ventura, Johnson alleged that Combs compelled Ventura to have intercourse with male escorts, recorded it, after which used the recordings as blackmail in opposition to her. She claimed that in a single incident, Combs had a intercourse employee urinate in Ventura’s mouth.
In an incident separate from the violent viral hallway beating seen on video, the prosecution detailed one other alleged encounter, claiming that Combs went “on the hunt” after he realized Ventura was seeing one other lady. He allegedly took a gun, discovered her, and beat her severely, in keeping with Johnson in courtroom.
As for the “freak offs,” the prosecution argued that Combs would drug girls, together with Ventura, and pressure them into undesirable intercourse acts. The prosecution is alleging that Combs usually assaulted Ventura beforehand to “present who was in cost.”
There will likely be many items of fabric proof offered in relation to those “freak offs,” together with precise video and associated textual content messages, invoice, and reported harm to lodge rooms.
The prosecution argued that the racketeering conspiracy cost comes from Combs working along with his high-level staff and bodyguards to “commit completely different crimes, kidnapping, arson, distributing medication to different individuals, exploiting staff for labor.”
If you’re experiencing home violence, name the Nationwide Home Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is out there 24/7 in additional than 170 languages.

Hollywood Reacts To Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Being Charged With Intercourse Trafficking and Extra
View Story