Pop artist Dawn Richard returned to the witness stand in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial, after informing a jury last week that she witnessed the hip-hop mogul consistently physically and emotionally abuse his then-girlfriend for years.
Ms. Richard, a former member of the pop ensemble Danity Kane, recounted an incident at Mr. Combs’ Los Angeles residence in 2009, where she alleged Combs assaulted his then-girlfriend, Casandra Ventura, and pulled her upstairs by her hair.
She stated that she heard the sound of breaking glass and screams.
Ms. Richard testified that Mr. Combs summoned her and other witnesses to the studio the following day, presented them with flowers, and warned that their careers could suffer if they reported the occurrence.
He has been in custody since September at a Brooklyn jail when not attending court.
If found guilty on all charges, he could face 15 years to life imprisonment.
The 38-year-old Ms. Ventura, a rhythm and blues artist known as Cassie, testified over four days last week that Mr. Combs coerced and blackmailed her into participating in drug-fueled sex parties he referred to as “freak offs”.
Ms. Ventura, the prosecution’s primary witness, claimed she endured years of physical and emotional abuse throughout their turbulent relationship, and that Mr. Combs raped her in August 2018 at her residence after their breakup.
A courtroom sketch of Casandra Ventura in New York last week
“I just remember crying and saying no, but it happened so quickly,” she remarked last week, her voice trailing off.
A lawyer representing Mr. Combs attempted to undermine the rape accusation by presenting jurors with text messages suggesting Ms. Ventura engaged in consensual sex with Mr. Combs a month following the purported rape.
The trial in Manhattan federal court, which has garnered significant media attention due to Mr. Combs’ wealth and prominence in the music industry, could extend up to two months.
Mr. Combs, formerly known as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, established Bad Boy Records and is recognized for propelling artists like Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, Notorious B.I.G., and Usher to stardom in the 1990s and 2000s.
Part of the criminal case originates from Ms. Ventura’s civil lawsuit filed in November 2023 against Mr. Combs.
She testified that he agreed to settle for $20 million (€17.8m) after 24 hours.
Ms. Richard has also filed her own civil lawsuit against Mr. Combs, claiming he subjected her to brutal working conditions, including groping and assault, and that she witnessed Mr. Combs violently beat Ms. Ventura on multiple occasions.
