Sean Combs sex trafficking trial updates: Cassie's testimony ends after days of describing abuse

Combs entered courtroom 26A in a white dress shirt, light colored pullover and khaki pants, smiling and blowing kisses to his mother and six children who are seated in the second row and who are all wearing black and white.

Combs embraced his eight lawyers who are seated at two separate tables. He donned reading glasses and began to flip through pages.

The six women who are prosecuting Combs on charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation for prostitution are seated in the front row. All of them are wearing dark jackets.

The lawyers came prepared to finalize the jury of 12 plus six alternate jurors.

Forty-three prospective jurors, all of whom live in Manhattan, the Bronx and New York City's northern suburbs, were summoned to court Monday. The judge opted to choose the jury now out of fear that, if given the weekend to think about it, jurors would get cold feet.

The final stage of jury selection is taking place.

Twelve New Yorkers will be chosen to sit on a panel to ultimately determine the fate of Sean "Diddy" Combs.

Of the pool of 43 prospective jurors, it's expected that the prosecution and defense will go through the elimination process, choosing who they'd like to sit on the panel and those they want dismissed.

Once jury selection is wrapped up, opening statements are expected to follow. Eyewitness News Reporter Kemberly Richardson explains what we can expect on Monday:

Kemberly Richardson reports from outside court on what to expect on day 1 of the Diddy trial.

Sean Combs may have committed domestic violence in his relationships with women but his conduct "did not tip into coercion," defense attorneys said they are prepared to argue when opening statements and witness testimony begin Monday in Combs' sex trafficking and racketeering trial.

Defense lawyers previewed the argument on Friday as they discussed their cross-examination of Cassie Ventura, one of the women federal prosecutors said Combs coerced into "sex marathons" known as "freak offs."

"We are going to take the position that there was mutual violence in their relationship," defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said. "We're probably going to call it domestic violence."

Agnifilo said it would cause Combs to think that while violence was part of the relationship but "it's not coercing her to do anything."

Judge Arun Subramanian did not immediately decide the scope of cross-examination but seemed skeptical about the defense argument.

"That is a stretch," Subramanian said. "Strong people can be coerced just like a weak person."

Prosecutors said the defense should be precluded from questioning Ventura about "about unrelated acts of domestic violence and/or physical abuse."

Three witnesses are expected to testify next week. One of the first two is an "escort," prosecutors said.

The third witness is expected to be Ventura. She is pregnant and prosecutors said their third witness would need frequent breaks during her testimony, approximately every 90 minutes.

Court will begin at 9 a.m. on Monday with lawyers making their peremptory strikes. Once 12 jurors and 6 alternates are selected they will be instructed and sworn before opening statements.

The final stage of jury selection for the racketeering and sex trafficking trial of hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs is set for Monday, right before opening arguments begin, a federal judge decided on Friday.

Click here for a full recap of what you missed during week 1 of Sean Combs' trial.