New York City: As Sean “Diddy” Combs’ high-profile sex trafficking trial continues in Manhattan federal court, pop singer Dawn Richard is set to return to the witness stand this Monday to provide further testimony against the hip-hop mogul.
Richard, a former member of the pop group Danity Kane, previously told the jury that she witnessed Combs physically and emotionally abuse his then-girlfriend, rhythm and blues singer Casandra Ventura, also known as Cassie.
According to Richard, in 2009, at Combs’ Los Angeles home, she saw him violently beat Ventura and drag her upstairs by the hair, followed by sounds of breaking glass and screaming. The next day, Combs allegedly summoned Richard and other witnesses to his studio, where he gave them flowers and warned that their careers would suffer if they reported the assault.
Combs, 55, currently faces five felony counts, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution, charges to which he has pleaded not guilty. Held in a Brooklyn jail since September when not attending court, Combs could face 15 years to life in prison if convicted on all counts.
The case revolves primarily around Ventura’s testimony from last week, in which she described years of coercion, blackmail, and abuse during their relationship. Ventura detailed how Combs forced her to participate in drug-fueled sex parties known as “Freak Offs,” central to the prosecution’s case, and said he raped her in August 2018 at her home after their breakup.
Combs’ defense team challenged Ventura’s rape allegations by presenting text messages suggesting consensual sex occurred a month after the alleged assault. The trial, which has attracted intense media attention due to Combs’ immense influence in the music industry, is expected to last up to two months.
Combs, known for founding Bad Boy Records and launching the careers of icons like Mary J. Blige and Notorious B.I.G., faces significant scrutiny from criminal prosecutors and civil lawsuits filed by both Ventura and Richard. Ventura’s civil case, filed in November 2023, was reportedly settled for $20 million.
Meanwhile, Richard’s lawsuit accuses Combs of subjecting her to abusive working conditions, including groping and assault, and corroborates her eyewitness account of Ventura’s repeated beatings.
This trial marks a critical moment in holding a powerful music mogul accountable amid growing awareness of abuse within the entertainment industry.
