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

The hip-hop mogul is charged with sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.

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Last updated: Friday, May 16, 2025 11:26PM GMT
DIDDY ON TRIAL: First week of witness testimony recap

NEW YORK -- After four days on the witness stand, Cassie Ventura concluded her testimony Friday at the trial of her ex-boyfriend, Sean "Diddy" Combs.

It came shortly after the defense concluded nearly two days of cross-examination.

Prosecutors allege Combs, 55, used his fame and fortune to orchestrate an empire of exploitation, coercing women into abusive sex parties.

If Combs is convicted on all charges, which include racketeering, kidnapping, arson, bribery and sex trafficking, he would face a mandatory 15 years in prison and could remain behind bars for life.

This story may contain accounts and descriptions of actual or alleged events that some readers may find disturbing.

"Bad Rap: The Case Against Diddy," a new podcast from "20/20" and ABC Audio, traces how the whispers of abuse came to light and led to the downfall of Sean "Diddy" Combs, who was once among the most influential entertainers and entrepreneurs in hip hop. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and more.

Kemberly Richardson reports from Lower Manhattan.

(ABC News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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May 12, 2025, 9:06 PM GMT

Phillip describes a violent episode

Daniel Phillip testified that his interactions with Cassie and Combs came to an end after seeing Combs become violent toward her one day.

He said Cassie was sitting at her computer when Combs called to her from the bedroom. When she replied to "hold a second," he said, Combs came out of the room.

Professional stripper, Daniel Phillip, testifies on witness stand on the first day of Sean Diddy Combs' trial in Manhattan federal court, Monday, May 12, 2025, in New York.l
Professional stripper, Daniel Phillip, testifies on witness stand on the first day of Sean Diddy Combs' trial in Manhattan federal court, Monday, May 12, 2025, in New York.l

"Mr. Combs walked over to Cassie, grabbed her by her hair and started dragging her by her hair into the bedroom," Phillip said.

He said he then heard what sounded like Combs slapping her as she screamed and said: "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

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May 12, 2025, 8:23 PM GMT

Second witness describes encounters with Cassie and Combs

After the first witness Israel Florez got straight to the allegations of violence by Combs, the second prosecution witness, Daniel Phillip, took the trial to the allegations of sex parties.

Phillip said he was a male stripper for women when he was called by Cassie to meet her and Combs at the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York in 2012.

Phillip said he was paid a few thousand dollars for the encounter in which Combs was wearing a white robe and watching as Phillip had sex with Cassie.

Phillip testified that Combs subsequently hired him on several occasions for a redo of the same experience.

Encouraged by a prosecutor's questions, Phillip got increasingly graphic in descriptions for the jury of the encounters.

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May 12, 2025, 9:09 PM GMT

Cross-examination and 2nd witness takes the stand

On cross-examination, defense attorney Brian Steel suggested that hotel security guard Israel Florez may have been embellishing his account when he testified that Combs had a "devilish" look on his face when he first encountered him in the hotel hallway.

"Where in your report do you describe Mr. Combs having "devilish stare?" Steel asked.

"It was my opinion but not part of the incident so not in the report," Florez responded.

First witness Intercontinental Security Officer Israel Florez testifies on the witness stand in Manhattan federal court on the first day of trial in New York.
First witness Intercontinental Security Officer Israel Florez testifies on the witness stand in Manhattan federal court on the first day of trial in New York.

Steel also sought to point out that Florez did not need to call for assistance because Combs was cooperative.

"When you first come, he's sitting in a chair?" Steel asked.

"Yes," Florez replied.

"You don't see him make any restive movements toward the young lady?" asked Steel.

"No," replied Florez.

On redirect, prosecutors replayed a portion of the video showing Combs attacking Ventura and sought to show that Florez's incident report did not necessarily include everything that occurred on that day in March 2016.

"Were you expected to include every single detail?" prosecutor Christy Slavik asked.

"No, ma'am," Florez responded.

Florez is off the stand following his testimony. The second prosecution witness is Daniel Phillip, a male escort who has said he was paid to have sex with Cassie Ventura at the Gramercy Park Hotel.

ByAaron Katersky ABCNews logo
May 12, 2025, 11:08 PM GMT

Jury sees 2016 video showing Cassie Ventura attack

The prosecution has played for the jury the March 2016 video of Combs attacking Cassie Ventura.

Ventura is seen on hotel surveillance footage standing at the elevator on the sixth floor of the InterContinental Hotel in Century City, CA wearing blue pants and black hoodie. There are two bags at her feet: one smaller, one larger.

Ventura is seen on the video retrieving socks from the larger bag. She starts to put them on her bare feet when the video shows Sean Combs emerging from around the corner, grabbing her from behind and throwing her to the floor. He then stomps on her and drags her toward their room, the video shows.

Ventura gets up and retrieves items from the floor. Combs is then seen approaching her again, taking a cell phone, sitting on a chair and throwing a vase at her. The jury saw photos of the broken vase glass on the hallway carpet.

Combs appeared to watch the video dispassionately, with his arms folded on the defense table. His mother and children, seated behind him in the spectators' gallery, displayed no reaction.

In a second video, hotel security guard Israel Florez, who testified earlier, is seen escorting Combs toward his room. There is no audio on the surveillance footage but the two men are seen conversing. "I'm trying to deescalate," Florez testified earlier regarding the conversation.

Florez recorded the third and fourth videos the jury saw using his cell phone. In one of them, Florez is seen talking to Combs and Ventura. There is no sound but he testified that he urged them to return to their room and told them the damage to the hallway would appear on their hotel bill.

Mike Marza talks with Michael F. Bachner about the defense's strategy with the jury seeing the 2016 video of the Cassie Ventura attack.