Sean “Diddy” Combs overdosed on painkillers the evening he attended a Playboy Mansion get together in 2012 as he battled dependancy points, which the beleaguered rap mogul and his former long-term girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, struggled with all through their decade-long on-and-off relationship, she testified Thursday at his federal intercourse trafficking and racketeering trial.
The incident occurred round 4 years into their tumultuous relationship, which Ventura detailed as a part of testimony she gave in a decrease Manhattan federal courtroom because the protection cross-examined her. Ventura has spent every single day this week recounting for the courtroom the lurid particulars of her time with Combs, which concerned alleged bodily abuse, manipulation, violence and her being coerced into collaborating in “freak-offs,” drug-fueled sexual encounters with male intercourse staff as Combs allegedly regarded on and masturbated.
“Was that across the time Whitney Houston died? I imagine so,” Ventura requested the protection lawyer when questioned about Combs’ overdose. “That night we had a ‘freak-off.’ We went to a intercourse membership in San Bernardino. After which he had a celebration on the Playboy Mansion that evening, and I went residence … From what [Combs] informed me, he took a very sturdy opioid that evening, however we didn’t know what occurred. So, we took him to the hospital.”
Ventura informed the protection legal professional who questioned her about her time with the influential rap and style trade participant that each she and Combs used painkillers and opioids all through their relationship; on the time that Combs was on the high of the rap and style industries, he was an addict, Ventura testified. “I’d say he was an addict,” she informed the courtroom, at some extent additionally saying that “he wanted to get well.” Whereas being questioned by prosecutors earlier within the week, Ventura stated that she started to take painkillers to numb herself after the punishing “freak-offs,” which may contain taking medicine and interesting in intercourse acts she says had been orchestrated and directed by Combs for days on finish.
Combs was arrested in September and, in a five-count indictment, is accused by federal prosecutors of twenty years of abuse of ladies, trafficking of intercourse staff and turning his music and style empire right into a legal enterprise. He has pleaded not responsible and denies the entire allegations towards him.
Ventura had a stint in a rehab facility in Arizona that she says didn’t stick and indicated that for each her and Combs, the dependancy points had been intermittent and they’d have conversations about wanting to wash up and cease utilizing. The drug use impacted the “freak-offs,” Ventura revealed in a while Thursday, saying that Combs expressed concern about getting caught in “the matrix,” which was their code for once they’d gotten too excessive for any intercourse to happen throughout a “freak-off.”
The cross-examination of Ventura has largely consisted of the protection making an attempt to point out her as a keen participant within the seemingly abusive relationship with Combs. Questions on her infidelity, drug use and her jealousy over his relationships with different girls have been largely deflected by Ventura, who’s being forthright in testifying about facets of her previous which are less-than-flattering, clearly characterizing this as previous habits linked to a poisonous relationship in her previous. At one level, she informed Combs’ protection legal professional Anna Estevao that the explanation she continued to take part in “freak-offs” with Combs was as a result of to her it “was a job.” Ventura, who’s now married and has two children, is eight months pregnant as she particulars her time with Combs because the prosecution’s star witness.
Ventura’s 2011 affair with rapper Child Cudi and romantic involvement with actor Michael B. Jordan had been mentioned in courtroom, as she defined Combs’ “explosive” response when he discovered of her infidelity or determination so far one other movie star. Infidelity was a frequent concern with the couple; Ventura testified that she was “jealous” of Combs’ relationship along with his ex, late mannequin Kim Porter, and stated that after years of relationship Combs, she wished to be part of his household life. Combs, she testified, would carry up the affair with Cudi all through the connection every time his infidelity got here up in arguments, she informed the courtroom.
On Thursday the protection additionally introduced the jury with a flurry of texts between Ventura and Combs, making an attempt to show that she was a keen participant within the “freak-offs” and never coerced into doing something towards her will.
In a single message, Ventura wrote, “I’m all the time able to freak-off Lol.” Combs wrote in one other, “I’m so sexy,” and Ventura responded: “Omg I used to be nearly to textual content you an identical factor.” In a 3rd, Combs texted, “I can’t wait” for one among their “freak-offs,” Ventura replied: “I can’t wait both.” One textual content message from Ventura the protection introduced was so graphic that federal prosecutors objected and Decide Arun Subramanian sustained and referred to as for a recess.
Ventura has testified that she participated within the drugs-and-sex marathons to maintain Combs, her boss at Dangerous Boy Data and long-term romantic associate, completely satisfied and fulfilled. She informed the courtroom that at one level, she hoped to have a baby with him.
With someday left of scheduled cross-examination, Decide Subramanian is urging the protection workforce to wrap up their questions. The protection argued that prosecutors referred to as two witnesses this week forward of Ventura’s testimony, and subsequently, she ought to be accessible to them for completion of the cross-examination on Monday.
“We’ll attempt to slender it down,” stated protection lawyer Marc Agnifilo. “This can be a crucial witness and I’ll come again within the morning and offer you an estimate. It is a crucial witness and an important case.”