The second week of the Sean ‘P Diddy‘ sex-trafficking trial began on Monday, with Danity Kane singer, Dawn Richard, taking the witness stand.
Combs, 55, is facing five federal criminal charges tied to what prosecutors describe as a “sprawling criminal enterprise” operating over more than two decades.
The federal case, which could see Combs sentenced to life in prison if found guilty, is already proving to be one of the most high-profile trials in recent entertainment history. And, after a week of opening statements and explosive allegations, as well as gruelling testimony from Cassie Ventura, the brave woman at the crux of this case, prosecution called on Richard as the fourth person to testify.
Richard, who has a pending civil case against the disgraced mogul, told the court that she witnessed Combs allegedly assaulting his ex-partner, Cassie Ventura, while other celebrities, including Usher, were present.
The singer is currently on day two of testimony, where she alleged that Combs assaulted Ventura inside a restaurant in 2010. “She immediately bent over, he [Combs] told her to leave,” she testified in relation to an alleged incident whereby Combs punched Ventura in the stomach during an argument. “No one intervened,” she added, before alleging that Usher, Ne-Yo, Jimmy Iovine and “other celebrities,” witnessed the same incident.
Following the alleged assault, Richard claimed to have been travelling in a car with the then-couple when Ventura told Combs that she felt “embarrassed” that he’d acted like that in a public setting.
“He grabbed her by the neck and popped her, slapped her in the mouth,” she testified, before adding: “He would tell her he owned her.”
“I told her he should leave,” Richard told the court. “Cass looked torn. She would listen, but I could see the fear.”
The singer also testified to the frequency of Combs’ attacks, claiming that: “frequently, he would punch her, choke her, slap her in the mouth.” She told the court that she often “saw him kick her, punch her in the stomach,” and that anything could incite his anger. “It could be because Cassie was speaking up for herself, it could be random.”
Combs Threatened Richard’s Life
On day one of her testimony, Dawn Richard also recounted a time in 2009 when she alleged Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs assaulted Ventura with a skillet full of eggs, put his arm around her neck and dragged her upstairs, per NBC News.
Following the incident, she claimed that Combs threatened her: “He said you could go missing, that we could die,” Richard explained to jurors, per NBC.
“I was shocked but also scared, I couldn’t believe this would be the beginning of a journey for us (with the group Dirty Money).”
“I was scared for her,” she continued, speaking about her fears for Ventura. “I was scared to do anything.”
Richard Claims Decade Of Abuse From Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
On September 10, 2024, Richard filed a civil complaint alleging that Combs sexually and verbally abused her for nearly a decade, as per court documents obtained by People.
The singer, who’d become involved with Combs during the filming of reality show Making The Band, claimed that Combs exhibited “aggressive and hostile behaviour” towards her, including “disparaging gender-based remarks”
In the same civil suit, Richard also claims that she allegedly witnessed Combs physically assault multiple women, including Ventura “on multiple occasions.”
For a full timeline of the case and allegations leading up to this trial, see our comprehensive explainer here and explore our wider coverage at this link.
If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14.
Related articles:
- Everything To Know About The Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Trial
- Why Are So Many Celebrities Being Named In P Diddy’s Trial?
- The Biggest Revelations From The First Week Of Diddy Trial Testimony
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