Sean ‘Diddy' Combs ‘tried to break Cassie's door with hammer' after hotel attack
The disgraced rapper's trial began in New York last week – he is facing charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, and has denied all allegations.
The Me & U singer ended her testimony on Friday, and spoke in detail about the shocking video that emerged in 2024, showing the 55-year-old kicking and hitting his ex-girlfriend while at the InterContinental Hotel in 2016, before dragging her across the floor.
Her former friend, Kerry Morgan, took to the stand today to discuss the aftermath of the footage, explaining that she was staying at Ventura's apartment at the time.
Speaking to the court, Morgan said that Ventura appeared to have a black eye when she returned, and that Combs turned up around 30 minutes later.
Multiple US outlets report that she testified he was yelling and banging on the door with a hammer when he arrived, causing her to 'freak out'.
She recalled getting in touch with his security guard, while Ventura remained on the sofa.
'I don't think she [cared] if he came in and killed her,' she told the jury, before sharing that Combs was never able to get into her apartment.
Elsewhere, Morgan – who was one of Ventura's long-time friends before they went their separate ways – said that she hid in a ditch with the Empire actress for 'what felt like hours' after the mogul attacked her in 2013.
Earlier in the day, Dawn Richard continued her testimony and spoke of the moment she was threatened after witnessing him attack his then-partner.
Richard came to fame in 2005 after auditioning for Combs' MTV series, Making the Band 3 – she made it into Danity Kane alongside Aubrey O'Day, Wanita Woodgett, Shannon Bex and Aundrea Fimbres.
The group officially disbanded in 2009, after which she became a member of Diddy-Dirty Money with Combs and Kalenna Harper, before eventually leaving his Bad Boy Records label in 2011.
She filed a lawsuit against Combs in 2024, alleging that he assaulted her, deprived her of food and sleep, and refused to pay her properly.
In the documents, she claimed that she witnessed the businessman abuse Ventura on multiple occasions – accusations he has fiercely denied.
Richard initially appeared in court on Friday and alleged that she saw him attack the star with a skillet full of eggs in 2009 when he was enraged over his breakfast.
Speaking on the stand today, the 41-year-old told the jury that she 'frequently' witnessed him being violent.
'He would punch her, choke her, drag her, slap her in the mouth,' she said. 'I saw him kick her, punch her in the stomach.'
When discussing what prompted the outbursts, she said: 'It could be Cass speaking up for herself. It could be random. We didn't even know where it came from.'
Richard told the court that Combs became violent at a dinner attended by record label executives, and allegedly punched Ventura in the stomach at the restaurant.
She claimed that the former couple had been arguing quietly before the attack, and that he instructed Ventura to leave after she bent over in reaction to the blow.
The argument reportedly continued in the car outside the venue, where his ex was 'embarrassed' that the incident had been so public.
Richard said that he 'grabbed her by the neck and popped her, slapped her in the mouth,' and told her to shut up. More Trending
She also claimed that he threatened her and Ventura shortly after the kitchen incident.
'He said you could go missing, that we could die,' she alleged. '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].'
The hearings are expected to go on for several weeks – if convicted, Combs could spend the rest of his life behind bars.
The trial continues.
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