A federal judge in New York has allowed a video showing Sean Combs kicking and dragging his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in 2016 to be shown at his trial. The defense had argued the video was manipulated, but the judge ruled that it is admissible. The trial, which began on May 5, accuses Combs of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
Combs’ lawyers are planning to describe him as a “swinger” to explain why he invited prostitutes to join his activities. Prosecutors are seeking to include testimony about a medical procedure that allegedly shows the degree of control Combs had over an alleged victim. The indictment accuses Combs of leading a criminal enterprise that allowed him to abuse and coerce women for years, including narcotics offenses, arson, bribery, kidnapping, forced labor, and other crimes.
The defense strategy has come into focus, with Combs’ lawyer suggesting that his client thought the lifestyle was “so common” that it was acceptable. However, prosecutors argue that the video is directly relevant to the sex-trafficking allegations. A jury will hear the case on May 5, with the judge deciding later whether to allow testimony about an unnamed medical procedure.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/US/judge-allows-cassie-video-shown-sean-diddy-combs/story?id=121166588