What to know about the sex trafficking trial

– LIVE UPDATES – 

• Combs’ legal team moved for a mistrial, accusing the prosecution of misconduct over the implication that Combs may have destroyed fingerprint evidence. The judge denied the motion saying there were no objections on the line of questioning up until that point and no testimony that was prejudicial.
• Los Angeles police Officer Chris Ignacio, a 16-year veteran of the force, took the witness stand this morning. An arson investigator for the Los Angeles Fire Department, Lance Jiminez also testified.
• Both witnesses were originally supposed to testify yesterday, but were moved after Sean “Diddy” Combs’ former assistant, Capricorn Clark, delivered a day of gripping testimony.
• Combs faces five criminal counts: one count of racketeering conspiracy; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs has denied the allegations against him.

L.A. police officer and firefighter set to testify

Los Angeles police Officer Christopher Ignacio and L.A. fire arson investigator Lance Jiminez are expected to be the first witnesses to take the witness stand this morning.

They will presumably discuss the 2012 Molotov cocktail attack on Kid Cudi’s Porsche.

Stylist Deonte Nash, a former Combs employee, and “Mia,” an alleged victim of Combs, are set to follow the L.A. authorities.

Combs ‘should definitely walk,’ says rival Suge Knight

Combs’ rival, Death Row Records founder Suge Knight, said he believes the Bad Boy executive is being wrongly prosecuted.

“Puffy and I are not friends, but Puffy should definitely walk at the end of the day,” Knight told NewsNation host Chris Cuomo in a jailhouse interview yesterday.

Knight said that if Combs did break the law, he shouldn’t be the only person prosecuted.

“But the most important thing is that it was other executives that was involved in Puffy’s life, and for Puffy to be the only guy that gets on the stand is a sad day for hip-hop,” said Knight, who is being held at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego.

The Death Row founder’s name was mentioned at trial because Combs allegedly armed himself and tried to confront Knight at an L.A. restaurant in 2008.

Knight was sentenced to 28 years in prison in 2018 for a fatal hit-and-run three years prior.

‘We’re going to kill Mescudi’: Former Combs aide described his rage against Kid Cudi

In her testimony yesterday, Capricorn Clark said Combs was outraged to learn that Cassie and rapper Kid Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, were seeing each other.

She recalled that the morning of Dec. 22, 2011, Combs banged on her apartment door enraged, with a firearm, and said, “Get dressed, we’re going to go kill Mescudi.”

Clark also testified that she was sitting in a car at Kid Cudi’s home when Combs entered. She also said she took Ventura to Best Buy at one point to buy a burner phone to contact Kid Cudi, because she feared Cassie was “going to get us all killed.”

Court is now in session

Court is now officially in session, kicking off the 11th day of Combs’ racketeering and trafficking trial.

LAPD officer takes the witness stand

Los Angeles police Officer Chris Ignacio, a 16-year veteran of the force, took the witness stand for the state.

Ignacio was working out of the Hollywood Division in late 2011 when he answered a call about a possible break-in at Kid Cudi’s house.

Pre-Christmas break-in: Gifts opened at Kid Cudi’s home

When Officer Ignacio entered Kid Cudi’s home, he spotted a table with Christmas gifts on it — some were wrapped, some were not.

The policeman’s observations could back up Kid Cudi’s previous testimony that Combs broke into his house and opened gifts he’d purchased for his family.

Car seen at Kid Cudi break-in registered to Bad Boy Productions, cop says

The car police observed leaving the scene of the break-in at Kid Cudi’s home was registered to one of Combs’ companies, according to testimony from Los Angeles police Officer Chris Ignacio.

Ignacio told the court he noticed a Cadillac Escalade directly in front of the rapper’s Hollywood Hills home and memorized the license plate in case it was relevant. The officer added that they did not have a confirmed crime when reporting to the home.

A trespassing report was made, Ignacio said, and the computer showed the Escalade was registered to Bad Boy Productions, Inc.

Kid Cudi break-in was not a reported burglary, LAPD cop says

Defense attorney Brian Steele cross-examined the Los Angeles officer who responded to the Kid Cudi break-in, getting him to testify that the incident at the home was not reported as a burglary.

Steele asked Ignacio whether there was any evidence or reports of stolen items, and Ignacio said no. The officer also testified there were no reports made to him at the time that there was a threat to kill anyone.

This is an important moment for Combs’ defense because robbery and murder are predicate crimes that would provide support to the government’s racketeering charge.

LAFD arson investigator called to Kid Cudi’s home in early 2012

Arson investigator Lance Jimenez recalled how he was dispatched to Kid Cudi’s Los Angeles home and found a Molotov cocktail in the rapper’s car.

An engine company was already scene on Jan. 9, 2012, and found a Porsche with a foot-long cut on its canvas top, Jimenez said.

He reported a bottle with a burned handkerchief on the center console with the smell of gasoline.

Bottle in Molotov cocktail didn’t break, arson investigator says

The damage to Kid Cudi’s car was not as extensive as it could have been because the Molotov cocktail didn’t shatter as it was likely intended to, Jimenez explained to the court.

He testified that the cloth fell out and that the bottle didn’t break, which would have caused the gasoline inside the bottle to disperse.

Jimenez told the court that firebombs, in his experience, can cause significant damage.

No doubt this was an intentionally set fire, arson investigator says

Jimenez called the fire set inside Kid Cudi’s car a “targeted” crime.

It was clear that an attacker took a bottle of gasoline, put a cloth in it, set it on fire and dropped it into the rapper’s Porsche, according to the LAFD investigator.

“I personally felt that it was targeted,” the witness said.

Arson is among the acts listed in the racketeering conspiracy allegations against Combs.

Fingerprint evidence was destroyed, witness testifies

The trial came to a dramatic pause when Jimenez revealed that some of the fingerprints lifted during the trespassing probe were destroyed.

The defense argued that all testimony about lost fingerprints should be stricken from the record because the inference could be that Combs had something to do it.

“What the government has done is outrageous,” defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo said.

U.S. District Court Judge Arun Subramanian agreed with the defense and struck mentions of the lost fingerprints.

Defense moves for a mistrial but gets swiftly denied by judge

Combs’ legal team moved for a mistrial, accusing the prosecution of misconduct over the implication that Combs may have destroyed fingerprint evidence.

Judge Arun Subramanian ruled that the testimony from the arson investigator would be struck, but Alexandra Shapiro, one of Combs’ attorneys, said the jury will be left with the impression regardless. Prosecutor Christy Slavik argued that there were good faith questions regarding the investigation into the firebombing of Kid Cudi’s car.

Subramanian denied the motion for a mistrial, saying there were no objections on the line of questioning up until that point and no testimony that was prejudicial in any way, shape or form.

He added that it was plausible to raise the fingerprint cards during their direct questioning of the witness because the defense was likely going to bring up the fact that evidence in the investigation was destroyed.

Investigator testifies he couldn’t reach Cassie Ventura or Capricorn Clark

Jimenez testified that he wanted to interview possible witnesses who were connected to Combs — but was greeted by silence.

He especially wanted to interview Combs’ girlfriend at the time, Cassie Ventura, and assistant Capricorn Clark but they never returned his phone calls or answered the front door when the investigator knocked in person, Jimenez said.

Jimenez ‘s testimony could go to the government’s obstruction of justice allegations against Combs.

A black glove was found inside Kid Cudi car, investigator says

A single black driving glove was found in the backseat of Kid Cudi’s car, Jimenez told the court upon cross-examination.

Jimenez testified that the glove belonged to Kid Cudi and that it was not sent out for testing as part of the investigation.

Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo asked if the person who dropped the Molotov cocktail in the Porsche was potentially wearing a glove, which Jimenez said was possible.

Clark’s brother didn’t want to help LAFD probe, investigator says

Jimenez’s failed effort to interview Clark even led to a “verbal confrontation” with the assistant’s brother, the witness said.

The LAFD investigation earlier testified that he couldn’t reach Clark and Ventura.

But Jimenez went a step further at the end of his testimony, saying Clark’s brother forcefully told him over the phone that she didn’t want to be interviewed. Jimenez said Clark’s brother made it abundantly clear that she “wanted nothing to do with” his probe.

Deonte Nash called to the stand

Deonte Nash, a stylist who worked with both Combs and Cassie Ventura, was called to the witness stand.

Cassie testified earlier in the trial that Nash was a friend and that he was present when Combs allegedly attacked her, causing her to cut her eyebrow when she hit the corner of her bed.

She told the court that Nash jumped on Combs’ back in her defense because Combs was trying to attack her.

Combs would tell Cassie he wouldn’t put out her mixtape when he was upset with her, Deonte Nash says

Combs allegedly threatened not to release Cassie Ventura’s music when he was upset with her, Nash told the court.

The celebrity stylist testified that he spent time with the couple and that quite a few times Combs would tell Ventura he wouldn’t release her music anytime she said something Combs didn’t like. The singer was under contract with Combs’ record label in a 10-album deal, but only released one full studio album, in 2006.

Nash also testified that he heard Combs threaten Ventura’s parents sometime around 2012 or 2013 while he was sitting next to her in a car.

Combs had exacting taste for Cassie’s hairstyle, witness testifies

Nash recounted an incident that allegedly showed how demanding and controlling Combs could be with Ventura.

They all attended Vanity Fair’s famed Oscars party in 2014 and Ventura wore her hair stylishly down, which Nash thought looked great.

But Combs disagreed, picked up Nash by his jacket and demanded Cassie’s hair be put up, the witness testified. Nash said he quickly got some hair pins and put Ventura’s hair up before Combs remarked: “I was right; it does look better (up).”

Combs threatened Ventura’s career, witness testifies

Combs was not shy about threatening Ventura’s career if she didn’t behave exactly as the music mogul wanted, Nash testified.

The witness recalled Combs telling Ventura that if he heard from her “smart-ass mouth,” then “her little mixtape won’t come out.”

Deonte Nash describes jumping on Combs’ back after mogul started attacking Cassie

Nash was in Cassie Ventura’s apartment helping her prepare for a music festival when Combs allegedly arrived and assaulted the singer, Nash testified.

Ventura mentioned the attack in her testimony two weeks ago. Nash told the court that Combs was enraged as he grabbed Ventura by the hair and began to kick and hit her.

Nash said he and Mia, also known as Victim-4, each tried to jump on Combs’ back but were thrown off. Combs continued to hit Cassie until her head hit the edge of her bed frame and began bleeding, Nash testified.

Prosecutors showed photos of Cassie’s bloodied eyebrow when she testified regarding this incident.

Combs threatened to release sex tapes to get Cassie’s parents fired, Deonte Nash says

Combs once threatened to release sex tapes of Cassie Ventura to her parents’ workplaces and the internet, the stylist said in his testimony.

Nash told the court that he was at Ventura’s apartment when Combs came over and grabbed Ventura by the hair, ordering Nash to get out. He testified Ventura eventually got in his car and they left, but that Combs called ordering them to pull over.

Combs then came to the window, angry with Ventura over something, and told her that he would release sex tapes of her to the internet, according to Nash. The music mogul said he would first release them to her parents’ workplaces to get them fired, Nash told the court.

Ventura cried as they drove away, Nash said, and the stylist tried to reassure her by telling her that Combs was on the tapes as well. Nash said that’s when Ventura told him that Combs wouldn’t be on the tapes because he was filming her with other men.

Stylist says he reported violence to Combs’ chief of staff

Nash didn’t report the violence he witnessed against Cassie Ventura to the police because he feared retaliation from Combs, he told the court.

But Nash testified that he did speak to Combs’ chief of staff, Kristina Khorram, about the issue.

Khorram promised to speak to Combs, Nash said, but the violence did not stop.

Cassie didn’t want to go to ‘freak offs,’ stylist says

Cassie Ventura expressed that she didn’t want to go to hotels with Combs to participate in “freak offs” but would go because Combs wanted her to, Nash testified.

He told the court that Ventura would pack sex toys and be gone for a day or more, returning tired. One example Nash gave to Ventura’s not wanting to go to a “freak off” was after a birthday celebration that Combs insisted on throwing for her.

Ventura didn’t want to leave, but said that Combs was mad at her for not going to a hotel for a “freak off,” Nash said. Ventura previously testified that she eventually left her party with Combs and gave in to his demand instead of going to a karaoke club with her friends.

Witness said he’d rather not give evidence against Combs

Nash told the jury he had kept in contact with Combs and doesn’t have any ill will against him despite all that he witnessed.

He called the regular text messages exchanged with the defendant “loving.”

“I don’t hate him,” Nash said in his direct examination. “It’s just not me.”

Then under cross-examination, Nash was asked if he was planning a lawsuit against Combs, and the witness replied: “No, I am focused on getting out of here (court).”

Cassie gives birth less than two weeks after leaving witness stand

Cassie Ventura gave birth yesterday, roughly two weeks after she took the stand as a witness in Sean Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial.

The baby is her third with her husband, Alex Fine. Ventura announced the pregnancy in an Instagram post featuring black-and-white photos of their family, including the couple’s two young daughters.

Witness recalls time Ventura fled Combs in fear

Earlier in the day, Nash recalled a tense moment in either 2013 or 2014 when Ventura was fleeing from Combs following a bad argument.

The witness recalled Ventura going up to her hotel room balcony in hopes of evading an enraged Combs, who had sent Nash to find her. The stylist said he feared she was about to harm herself.

“She was going to go over the balcony,” Nash recounted.

Witness says he last spoke with Cassie after she had her baby

Nash may have revealed some news to the courtroom during his cross examination, telling the jury he last spoke to Cassie Ventura after she gave birth yesterday.

The stylist was asked about when he spoke to Ventura, who was described as Nash’s good friend, by defense attorney Xavier Donaldson. Nash responded that it was after she had her baby.

Nash was instructed not to speak to Ventura about any testimony, as they were both taking the witness stand. He told the court that their conversations were generally about how she was doing and about what clothing to wear when appearing in court.

Court adjourned for the day, Deonte Nash will resume testimony

The government will have to make new travel arrangements for Nash, who was set to fly out of New York City tonight but will have to return to the witness stand tomorrow morning.

He ended for the day being asked about times where it seemed Combs’ security team assisted Nash and Ventura, even when it conflicted with Combs.

Mia, a pseudonym for Victim 4, is expected to take the stand tomorrow and continue until court ends Friday afternoon.

 

S: NBC News