The authorized proceedings relating to P. Diddy’s sex-trafficking trial are actually in movement, with the jury choice having been initiated. As of this writing, the method of selecting jurors has but to be accomplished. Apart from that, there’s additionally been discuss those that’ll be referred to as to testify, and one of the vital high-profile people that’ll reportedly take the stand is Diddy’s ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. The singer made the choice weeks in the past and, now, authorized pundit Nancy Grace has some phrases of recommendation for many who’ll cross-examine her.
In authorized paperwork, now-38-year-old Cassie Ventura was recognized as “Sufferer 1,” although she later confirmed that she was “ready to testify below her personal identify.” At current, the songstress, identified mononymously as Cassie, is pregnant together with her third youngster. That growth, after all, doesn’t even have any true bearing on the trial itself. Nonetheless, Nancy Grace warns that the protection needs to be delicate relating to questioning a girl who’s with youngster:
When you’ve gotten a pregnant woman – a mother – up on the stand, I imply, how merciless are you able to be? You may’t actually shred her on the stand. A pregnant woman? You gotta be actually cautious the way you cross-examine sure witnesses, or the jury will activate you. In the event that they understand you as a bully bullying somebody, that’s not gonna go down very nicely in any respect. They gotta be actually cautious cross-examining Cassie Ventura.
The previous Closing Arguments host made her feedback whereas showing on United States V. Sean Combs: Contained in the Diddy Trial, which is produced by TMZ. What she appears to be referring to are the optics of addressing a pregnant witness in a courtroom. It’s true that each the prosecution and the protection would have the possibility to talk with Cassie. Nonetheless, this recommendation can be notably relevant to the protection, which might probably have questions which are notably direct, given the content material of this case.
Between 2007 and 2018, Cassie was in a relationship with Diddy, whose actual identify is Sean Combs. Their relationship obtained appreciable consideration, particularly contemplating the 17-year age hole between them. In November 2023, Cassie filed go well with towards the now-55-year-old Diddy for alleged “violence” and “intercourse trafficking.” Whereas the rapper denied the allegations, he settled the go well with lower than 24 hours after it was filed. The “Me & U” singer’s lawsuit finally sparked the host of different fits that Diddy would ultimately face forward of and after his arrest in September 2024.
In Might 2024, CNN additionally launched footage recorded at a resort in 2016, which confirmed Sean Combs assaulting Cassie. The video confirmed the towel-clad Sean John promoter throw his then-girlfriend to the bottom by her neck, earlier than kicking her a number of instances. Combs then appeared to throw an object at Cassie. After the discharge of the footage, which the rapper’s group claimed was altered, Combs apologized for his actions, although Ventura’s lawyer chastised his sentiments, arguing that he made them extra about himself.
Diddy noticed a major authorized loss when it was dominated that the resort video could possibly be used as proof in courtroom, regardless of not being immediately tied to the federal case. Nonetheless, Cassie Ventura’s relationship with the mogul stays a key level inside the protection’s case. They filed paperwork months in the past and argued that movies captured at Diddy’s notorious Freak Offs show that his relationship with Cassie was consensual.
A number of federal fees have at the moment been leveled towards Sean Combs, together with racketeering and intercourse trafficking and transportation to have interaction in prostitution. Combs has pleaded not responsible, and he’s at the moment going through as much as life in jail on the costs. The trial is about to proceed subsequent week, and opening statements might be issued quickly. As for Cassie Ventura, it’s unclear as to precisely when she’ll take the stand.