The third week of testimony in Sean „Diddy“ Combs‘ sex trafficking trial resumed on Tuesday with emotional testimony from the rap mogul’s former personal assistant.
The third week of testimony in Sean „Diddy“ Combs‘ sex trafficking trial resumed on Tuesday with emotional testimony from the rap mogul’s former personal assistant, who testified about the violence and threats she said she witnessed on the job.
Crying at points on the witness stand, Capricorn Clark told jurors that she was told she would be „thrown into the East River“ if she failed a lie detector test about the theft of Combs‘ jewelry, that she was forced to accompany Combs to confront rival musician Kid Cudi, and how she witnessed Combs beat his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.
The intense testimony was complicated by an emotional cross-examination, as defense attorneys questioned Clark about her desire to reconcile with Combs and continue working with him.
„You want to work with him again?“ defense attorney Marc Agnifilo pressed after showing messages where Clark sought to reconcile with Combs.
„I wanted to work in the music industry“, Clark replied.
Combs faces the possibility of life in prison if convicted on sex-trafficking and racketeering charges. Prosecutors allege he used his music empire — including his vast wealth and control over his employees — to run a criminal enterprise that used violence and threats to coerce women into sex and then enforce their silence. The trial has already seen the onetime cultural tastemaker and music industry titan reduced to a drug-addled abuser who led a sex life replete with voyeurism, orgies and prostitutes.
Combs has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers have argued that Combs‘ actions, while outside the mainstream, were a private matter and not criminal in nature.“If you don’t convince him, I’m going to kill all you m————-.“
Last week, rapper and actor Kid Cudi — whose legal name is Scott Mescudi — told jurors that he believed Combs broke into his home in a spasm of jealousy after he learned Mescudi had been dating Combs‘ ex-girlfriend, Ventura.
Mescudi offered few details about the alleged break-in, telling jurors he rushed over to his home after being tipped off by Clark. Once there, he testified he only found traces of Combs‘ alleged actions, including finding Christmas gifts tampered with and his dog locked in his bathroom.
Taking the stand on Tuesday, Clark testified about that episode, which she said began in the early morning hours of Dec. 22, 2011, when a furious Combs arrived at her apartment with a handgun.
„He said, ‚Why didn’t you tell me?‘ I said, ‚I don’t know what you’re talking about.‘ He said, ‚Who is Scott?‘ I said, ‚I don’t know Scott.
