Rapper and actor Child Cudi testified on Thursday that he believes Sean “Diddy” Combs was behind the bombing of his Porsche in 2012 and that the mogul trespassed in his Los Angeles house after the fallen rap and trend icon realized each males have been romantically concerned with R&B singer Cassie Ventura.
Child Cudi, whose actual identify is Scott Mescudi, took the stand on Thursday in Combs’ intercourse trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan, the place the mogul’s staff of attorneys is defending him in opposition to federal prosecutors who allege in a five-count indictment that he created a legal enterprise to facilitate his abuse and exploitation of ladies, shield his status and conceal his conduct. Combs is accused of acts together with intercourse trafficking, compelled labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice. He pleaded not responsible and has stated he’s harmless of all crimes of which he’s accused.
Prosecutors known as Mescudi as they tried to indicate the jury how Combs used his workers as a way of controlling girls and utilizing his monetary and enterprise sources to hold out a violent assault. Carrying a black leather-based jacket and white T-shirt, the rapper advised the court docket that he met Ventura, who was then signed to Combs’ Unhealthy Boy Data, in 2008 and that they turned pals till they started relationship in 2011; she had led him to imagine that her relationship with Combs was over. In December of that yr, he acquired a cellphone name from Combs’ assistant, Capricorn Clark, who stated Combs was inside his Hollywood Hills house with an affiliate and she or he’d been compelled to go along with them.
He testified that he determined to drive house and on the best way, he phoned Combs, who calmly advised him, “I need to discuss to you,” however Combs was nowhere to be discovered when Mescudi obtained house; nonetheless, wrapped Christmas presents omitted had been opened and his canine, who was left to roam the home, was shut into the lavatory. Mescudi testified that he known as the police to report the break-in.
Weeks later in January 2012, Mescudi was at a pal’s home when he acquired a cellphone name from his canine sitter that his Porsche 911 was on fireplace in his driveway. Picture proof of a slit within the cloth roof of the sports activities automotive was proven to the jury. The rapper testified {that a} Molotov cocktail was found within the entrance seat of the Porsche, which was broken past restore within the incident.
In her marathon testimony final week, Ventura advised the court docket that Combs had threatened to explode Mescudi’s automotive and bodily injure him when he realized that the 2 have been romantically concerned. The day after the Porsche was bombed in his driveway, Mescudi went to fulfill with Combs to easy over the state of affairs.
“After the hearth, I stated, ‘That is getting out of hand. I want to speak to him,’” the Grammy-winning rapper advised the court docket. However Combs denied any involvement.
“What are we going to do about my automotive?” Mescudi advised the court docket he’d requested Combs, who he testified then gave him a “very chilly stare” and stated, “I don’t know what you’re speaking about.”
Mescudi then stated, “I knew he had one thing to do with it,” which jurors have been advised to ignore after Combs’ attorneys objected to the remark.
Years after the incident, he advised the court docket, Mescudi bumped into Combs at a resort. Whereas they spoke, Combs apologized “for every part,” however didn’t particularly point out the assault on his automotive.
Whereas cross-examining Mescudi, protection lawyer Brian Metal painted Ventura as a romantic two-timer who performed each Mescudi and Combs as she had been dwelling a “double life.” Ventura had testified final week that she was nonetheless seeing Combs for “freak-offs” and utilizing a burner cellphone for her relationship with Mescudi.
“Ms. Ventura was dwelling two completely different lives, is that true?” Metal requested, to which he replied, “Sure,” and stated that he was disillusioned to be taught that she had chosen to return with Combs.
Metal additionally requested Mescudi if he was conscious that feminine DNA was discovered on his wrecked Porsche by police who investigated the incident. He advised the court docket that he by no means heard something relating to the findings of the police investigation into the incident.