In a New York court, it has been alleged that Sean “Diddy” Combs attempted to break into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment with a hammer following the well-known assault at an Intercontinental Hotel in 2016 during his ongoing sex-trafficking trial.
Footage of Mr. Combs assaulting his former girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, has been displayed to the jury multiple times throughout the trial.
On Monday, Kerry Morgan, Ms. Ventura’s former best friend, testified about Mr. Combs allegedly trying to force his way into Ms. Ventura’s apartment after the incident and described it as horrifying.
Mr. Combs, now 55, has denied charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, and transporting individuals to engage in prostitution. If found guilty, he could face a life sentence.
Ms. Morgan recounted to the court how she witnessed Mr. Combs using a hammer to pound on Ms. Ventura’s apartment door in Los Angeles following the hotel incident.
As Ms. Morgan watched, she stated that Ms. Ventura seemed indifferent to the possibility of Mr. Combs entering and potentially harming her.
The attempted break-in did not result in Mr. Combs entering the apartment, and law enforcement officers arrived approximately three hours later, Ms. Morgan reported. No formal complaint was lodged.
Further allegations of Mr. Combs’ violent behavior were presented. Ms. Morgan testified that during a Jamaica vacation, she saw Mr. Combs drag Ms. Ventura down a hall by her hair because she was using the bathroom for too long.
The witness also claimed that she herself experienced violence from Mr. Combs when he choked her and threw a wooden hanger at her in 2018 while demanding the name of the person Ms. Ventura was cheating on him with.
Ms. Morgan had to seek urgent care for a concussion as a result.
The friendship between the two women ended after the incident. Ms. Morgan stated that Ms. Ventura later met her at a pizza place in West Hollywood and offered her $30,000 (£22,450) to sign a non-disclosure agreement, which they both agreed to. They have not spoken since.
“I draw my line at physical abuse,” Ms. Morgan stated.
Following Ms. Morgan’s testimony, David James, Mr. Combs’ former personal assistant, took the stand.
Describing his work schedule as 20 hours a day for six to seven days a week, Mr. James reported being shown a photograph of Mr. Combs in his Bad Boy Entertainment office, with a senior staff member stating, “This is Mr. Combs’ kingdom. We’re all here to serve it.”
The former assistant also retold a conversation he overheard in Manhattan, where Mr. Combs allegedly replied, “Cassie’s good. I got her right where I want her, she’s young,” when asked about Ms. Ventura.
According to Mr. James, Mr. Combs commented that Ms. Ventura was “very moldable.”
The trial is set to continue on Tuesday with Mr. James still on the witness stand.
