What to know about the sex trafficking trial

– LIVE UPDATES – 

• A former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs, identified by the pseudonym “Jane,” returns to the stand for her fifth day of testimony.
• In cross-examination yesterday, defense attorney Teny Geragos pressed Jane on her relationship with Combs and tried to complicate her allegations of forced sex, physical violence and abuse.

Getting inside the defendant’s mind

Jane isn’t a psychologist but her testimony yesterday might have given jurors the most insightful peek yet into Combs’ mindset, particularly in the bedroom.

Under cross-examination by the defense and without much objection from the government, Jane said she believes Combs is curious about bisexuality but wants to keep that side of him at a distance.

Asking his girlfriends to have sex with strange men, as he watched and recorded nearby, was his way of participating, according to Jane.

Combs is “too scared to do the act,” thus making these “freak offs” a regular part of his life, the former girlfriend told the court.

“I was trying to figure out the relationship and I came upon the word ‘cuckold,’ a man turned on by watching his woman having sex with another man,” Jane said. “I just wanted to know what was driving him.”

Defense seeking to show another side of Combs

The defense all but conceded that Combs regularly abused girlfriends and those around him — but has also highlighted the seemingly unfathomable affection the former partners had for him despite the violence he inflicted.

In between revealing details of Combs’ terrible mistreatment of her, Jane also said she enjoyed giving him foot rubs, cuddling with him while watching the NBC news magazine “Dateline” and accepting the allegedly loving nickname “Crack Pipe.”

The government, in closing arguments, will surely lean on earlier testimony by forensic psychologist Dawn Hughes to make sense of the wild ups and downs that Combs’ girlfriends endured.

‘Jane’ back on the stand in Diddy trial

A former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs’, identified by the pseudonym “Jane,” is back on the stand after giving an emotionally charged testimony yesterday.

Jane is one of four alleged victims at the center of the prosecution’s racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking case against Combs.

Her testimony is part of the government’s effort to show that Combs orchestrated a sprawling criminal enterprise to “fulfill his sexual desires.”

Diddy appears to speak to someone in the audience

Before court began, Combs was standing up toward the audience in the courtroom. He appeared to be wearing a light orange sweater and khaki pants and seemed to be mouthing words to someone in the courtroom.

Government seeking removal of juror

The government is seeking to remove one of the jurors, who the defense claims is among the panel’s Black members. 

It’s not clear exactly what’s driving the prosecution’s bid, aside from “lack of candor,” to seek the juror’s removal.

“We were very reluctant to put in this letter, it appeared to be a lack of candor with the court that raises serious issues with us,” lead prosecutor Maurene Comey told the court today. “We did not want to do this. We were compelled to do that.” 

The issue was brought up outside the presence of jurors yesterday and defense lawyer Alexandra Shapiro said her side is opposed to removing Juror No. 6, who is Black, and wants a chance to respond to the prosecution’s request.

“But if the government is going to put in a letter, you know, we’d like the opportunity to be heard either in writing or tomorrow morning,” according to a transcript of Shapiro’s discussion with the judge and government.

‘Jane’ testifies she initiated some ‘freak offs’ with Combs

Defense lawyers have presented exhibits in court suggesting “Jane” initiated some “freak offs” with Combs at a hotel.

Lawyers entered as evidence photos of a room with rose petals and balloons, decorated by Jane.

Asked if she suggested a hotel night with two other men at the same time, Jane answered yes.

“Yes, that was my suggestion, Combs was excited about that,” Jane said in court.

‘Jane’ says she’ll ‘never take this for granted’

After a late August, 2022 tryst with Combs and sex worker Paul, “Jane” testified she told the defendant how much she appreciated these encounters.

Jane texted Combs that she’s “having so much fun” and that she would “never take this for granted and will always make sure you are taken care of.”

The defense wants to cast these sexual encounters, “freak offs,” as consensual acts and not part of any criminal enterprise led by Combs.

Combs sent $13,000 to “Jane” for birthday celebration, witness testifies

Diddy sent “Jane” at least $13,000 for her birthday in February of 2023, she testified.

Jane acknowledged the money was for an outfit and her friends, who wanted to celebrate over dinner in Los Angeles.

Jane said the birthday dinner was OK but not great, and that she originally asked Diddy for $15,000.

Diddy was also with Kalisha at the time, whose birthday was around the same date as hers, Jane testified.

‘Jane’ testifies she received Van Cleef necklace and bracelet for birthday in 2023

The witness recalled how excited she was to receive a Van Cleef necklace and bracelet set for her birthday in 2023.

“Jane” said she wore lingerie and greeted Combs “with open arms” because the witness was “happy to be wrapped up in my lover’s arms.”

Asked if this birthday celebration led to a “hotel night,” she said: “Unfortunately, yes.”

‘Jane’ testifies she was upset by pictures of Combs with Yung Miami

Seeing pictures of Combs having fun in Turks and Caicos with rapper Yung Miami was a “painful” experience, Jane said.

Especially in light of all she’d done to satisfy him in sexual trysts with multiple men, “having to see the aftermath of him being with another woman, it was painful,” the witness recalled.

‘Jane’ becomes emotional in court after Diddy messages

“Jane” cried in court after discussing how Diddy was a blessing to her in a text message exchange.

“You are truly a blessing in my life, I have never had a man take care of me like you do,” Jane wrote to Diddy a day after one of their hotel nights. “You’re the reason for my child’s joy, it means the world to us, I love you baby.”

Jane also wrote she’ll always be by Comb’s side.

“You are my lover, my partner, my boyfriend,” she wrote.

Jane then began crying in front of the jury. 

‘Jane’ recalls ‘sobriety party’ which lasted 12 to 18 hours

“Jane” said she encouraged Combs to go 30 days eating healthy foods and staying off drugs, and that included Combs pushing for a “sobriety party,” which was a “hotel night” without drugs.

That party lasted between 12 and 18 hours and included Jane having sex with three men. She told the court she “unfortunately” agreed to Combs’ request.

“I resent him for how much I loved him and couldn’t say no to him,” the witness said of the October 2023 get-together. “I resent him for all of it.”

Combs tells ‘Jane’ they’re good for each other in party video

In a party video shot by a jovial “Jane,” Combs expressed how good for each other they were.

Combs told Jane they “need to pick each other up, isolate ourselves and do the same thing,” the video shot in fall 2023 showed.

Though Combs did seem to acknowledge he hadn’t been the best boyfriend, saying: “I don’t want to hurt you no matter what the f— is going on.”

Court adjourned for the day

Judge Subramanian sent jurors home for the day, asking them to return to court before 9 a.m. ET tomorrow.

There will be more cross-examination of “Jane,” though the defense has told Subramanian that should be done in the morning.

Prosecution could rest its case by next Wednesday

The lead prosecutor, Comey, said the government will rest no later than a week from Friday and perhaps as early as Wednesday next week.

The government is condensing its case and will soon let the court and defense know which witnesses will be cut from earlier plans, Comey said.

S: NBC News