Who's who in the trial of Sean ‘Diddy' Combs
Judge Subramanian replied: 'I think this is ridiculous. I think referring to the prosecution in this case as a six-pack of white women is outrageous.' He told Geragos he would be monitoring him.
'You have one more listener for your podcast,' the judge said.
'As long as you subscribe, I'm all for it,' Geragos shot back.
The alleged victims
Cassie Ventura is the 38-year-old Connecticut-born singer whose relationship with Combs is central to the case. Ventura is known as Victim-1 in the indictment. She has chosen to testify under her real name.
Victim-2, Victim-3 and Victim-4 are three key witnesses in the trial; they have been given permission by Judge Subramanian to testify under a pseudonym, to protect their privacy. Forcing them to reveal their identities in court would, according to prosecutors, impose 'real costs on the victims and the public.'
According to the indictment, Combs trafficked Victim-2 and Victim-3 and forced them into sex with male prostitutes. Combs denies that. His lawyers say these victims are 'former long-term girlfriends ... involved in consensual relationships.' The identities of Victim-2, Victim-3 and Victim-4 are known to Combs and his legal team.
The prosecution
Madison Smyser is the federal prosecutor leading the case against Combs. Smyser graduated from Harvard Law School and holds the position of Assistant US Attorney at the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. Her role is to present the prosecution's arguments and evidence; it was Smyser who confirmed last week that Combs had been offered a plea deal but had declined it.
The defence
If Marc Agnifilo's name sounds familiar it might be because he also represents Luigi Mangione - the man accused of shooting United Healthcare chief executive Brian Thompson. Agnifilo is a graduate of Brooklyn Law School and worked at the US Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey and as a Manhattan assistant district attorney before becoming a criminal defence lawyer. He has also represented 'pharma bro' Martin Shkreli, the founder of cult NXIVM Keith Raniere and former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng.
The prosecution noted this week that Mark Geragos had not filed a 'notice of appearance' to represent Combs in court during the trial, but the defence team seemed to consult with him.
Judge Subramanian asked in a robing room meeting if Geragos - whose clients have included Michael Jackson and the Menendez brothers - was advising Combs. Geragos said he represents Combs' mother, has represented Combs and speaks with him 'with great frequency.' His daughter, Teny Geragos, is a key member of Combs' legal team.
The expert witness
Dawn Hughes is a forensic psychologist who has appeared at a number of high-profile trials, including the 2019 prosecution of NXIVM cult leader Keith Raniere and the 2021 prosecution of singer R. Kelly and the defamation trial involving actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. Hughes will be called to testify by the prosecution. Hughes specialises in interpersonal violence, traumatic stress and anxiety disorders. Hughes is also scheduled to testify at the Harvey Weinstein trial, which is currently underway.
The jury
The trial officially began on May 5, but much of the first week was spent selecting jurors. US District Court juries are selected randomly from voter registration lists and driver's licence records. Potential jurors are then sent a summons to report to the courthouse.
The potential jurors are questioned by the judge and lawyers for both sides - a process known as voir dire (to speak the truth) to assess for impartiality.
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In this case, Judge Subramanian asked for 12 jurors and six 'alternates'. An alternate juror sits with the regular jurors, but does not deliberate on the evidence or vote on its outcome, unless a regular juror needs replacing.
Numerous possible jurors were disqualified on Tuesday after answering questions in ways that left lawyers and the judge to believe they could not be fair and unbiased. One man was dismissed after expressing doubt that he could follow an order by the judge not to smoke marijuana for the duration of the trial.
Several who were eliminated from the jury pool had seen or heard media reports related to the case, including some who said they saw a video in which Combs was hitting and kicking one of his accusers in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016.
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The Advertiser
15 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Origin star stops 'creepy' NRL teammate groping woman
A former NRL player acquitted of rape has admitted groping a woman on a night out with Brisbane players, prompting teammate Patrick Carrigan to intervene. Teui "TC" Robati, 23, has been sentenced to probation for sexually assaulting the woman at a bar in a "creepy" incident witnessed by former Broncos skipper Carrigan. The ex-NRL backrower made the admission minutes after being found not guilty of two counts of raping a different woman in another incident days earlier. Robati on Wednesday pleaded guilty to indecently groping a 21-year-old woman's breast at a Brisbane bar on the night of December 21, 2022. His then-teammate - Queensland State of Origin forward Carrigan - saw Robati assault the woman and stepped in to stop him, Brisbane District Court was told. Judge William Everson told Robati his offending was "brazen and quite frankly creepy", leaving the victim feeling completely violated. "Your conduct demonstrates a very disrespectful attitude toward women," Judge Everson said. Robati had earlier been on trial charged with rape over the separate incident. Robati on Monday pleaded not guilty to raping a woman twice in the disabled toilet of a pub in the inner-Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Valley on December 11, 2022. Defence barrister David Funch had told the jury it was accepted Robati had sexual contact with the woman after exposing himself but he thought he had consent. "It's poor behaviour but poor behaviour does not make you a rapist," Mr Funch said. The jury had deliberated for nine hours since Tuesday following a trial lasting one-and-a-half days. Robati made his NRL debut in 2021 after shining for Brisbane affiliate club Wynnum-Manly in the Queensland Cup. He played 10 NRL games in 2021 and backed it up with a further seven in 2022 after making that year's Maori All Stars team. The New Zealand-born forward had signed an extension until the end of 2024 but was axed by the Broncos in February 2023, before the NRL season started. Mr Funch had earlier told Judge Everson Robati had "lost everything" and was working in road construction and food packaging. "He remains hopeful of resuming his professional career and he has been in discussion with one other NRL team located in Sydney," Mr Funch said. "He has been informed by his manager that once these charges are finalised then he can resume his hopes of a professional career." Mr Funch asked Judge Everson not to record a conviction against Robati owing to his disadvantaged background while growing up in New Zealand. "He was a young man thrust into the limelight, all of a sudden enjoying fame and fortune, lined with the attention of others combined with alcohol," he said. "In the surreal position with fame at such a young age he was not equipped to handle himself appropriately." In sentencing, Judge Everson said he needed to send a message society condemned those who assaulted women. "That you felt entitled to sexually assault a woman is most concerning," he said. Judge Everson said he was reluctant to affect Robati's rehabilitation and did not record a conviction for his "reprehensible behaviour". "You are still a young man, you are hoping to rehabilitate yourself and resurrect your football career," he said. Robati walked from court after being sentenced to a two-year probation order. His legal representative outside court said Robati thanked the jury for its rape trial verdict and he was ready to move on with his life. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 A former NRL player acquitted of rape has admitted groping a woman on a night out with Brisbane players, prompting teammate Patrick Carrigan to intervene. Teui "TC" Robati, 23, has been sentenced to probation for sexually assaulting the woman at a bar in a "creepy" incident witnessed by former Broncos skipper Carrigan. The ex-NRL backrower made the admission minutes after being found not guilty of two counts of raping a different woman in another incident days earlier. Robati on Wednesday pleaded guilty to indecently groping a 21-year-old woman's breast at a Brisbane bar on the night of December 21, 2022. His then-teammate - Queensland State of Origin forward Carrigan - saw Robati assault the woman and stepped in to stop him, Brisbane District Court was told. Judge William Everson told Robati his offending was "brazen and quite frankly creepy", leaving the victim feeling completely violated. "Your conduct demonstrates a very disrespectful attitude toward women," Judge Everson said. Robati had earlier been on trial charged with rape over the separate incident. Robati on Monday pleaded not guilty to raping a woman twice in the disabled toilet of a pub in the inner-Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Valley on December 11, 2022. Defence barrister David Funch had told the jury it was accepted Robati had sexual contact with the woman after exposing himself but he thought he had consent. "It's poor behaviour but poor behaviour does not make you a rapist," Mr Funch said. The jury had deliberated for nine hours since Tuesday following a trial lasting one-and-a-half days. Robati made his NRL debut in 2021 after shining for Brisbane affiliate club Wynnum-Manly in the Queensland Cup. He played 10 NRL games in 2021 and backed it up with a further seven in 2022 after making that year's Maori All Stars team. The New Zealand-born forward had signed an extension until the end of 2024 but was axed by the Broncos in February 2023, before the NRL season started. Mr Funch had earlier told Judge Everson Robati had "lost everything" and was working in road construction and food packaging. "He remains hopeful of resuming his professional career and he has been in discussion with one other NRL team located in Sydney," Mr Funch said. "He has been informed by his manager that once these charges are finalised then he can resume his hopes of a professional career." Mr Funch asked Judge Everson not to record a conviction against Robati owing to his disadvantaged background while growing up in New Zealand. "He was a young man thrust into the limelight, all of a sudden enjoying fame and fortune, lined with the attention of others combined with alcohol," he said. "In the surreal position with fame at such a young age he was not equipped to handle himself appropriately." In sentencing, Judge Everson said he needed to send a message society condemned those who assaulted women. "That you felt entitled to sexually assault a woman is most concerning," he said. Judge Everson said he was reluctant to affect Robati's rehabilitation and did not record a conviction for his "reprehensible behaviour". "You are still a young man, you are hoping to rehabilitate yourself and resurrect your football career," he said. Robati walked from court after being sentenced to a two-year probation order. His legal representative outside court said Robati thanked the jury for its rape trial verdict and he was ready to move on with his life. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 A former NRL player acquitted of rape has admitted groping a woman on a night out with Brisbane players, prompting teammate Patrick Carrigan to intervene. Teui "TC" Robati, 23, has been sentenced to probation for sexually assaulting the woman at a bar in a "creepy" incident witnessed by former Broncos skipper Carrigan. The ex-NRL backrower made the admission minutes after being found not guilty of two counts of raping a different woman in another incident days earlier. Robati on Wednesday pleaded guilty to indecently groping a 21-year-old woman's breast at a Brisbane bar on the night of December 21, 2022. His then-teammate - Queensland State of Origin forward Carrigan - saw Robati assault the woman and stepped in to stop him, Brisbane District Court was told. Judge William Everson told Robati his offending was "brazen and quite frankly creepy", leaving the victim feeling completely violated. "Your conduct demonstrates a very disrespectful attitude toward women," Judge Everson said. Robati had earlier been on trial charged with rape over the separate incident. Robati on Monday pleaded not guilty to raping a woman twice in the disabled toilet of a pub in the inner-Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Valley on December 11, 2022. Defence barrister David Funch had told the jury it was accepted Robati had sexual contact with the woman after exposing himself but he thought he had consent. "It's poor behaviour but poor behaviour does not make you a rapist," Mr Funch said. The jury had deliberated for nine hours since Tuesday following a trial lasting one-and-a-half days. Robati made his NRL debut in 2021 after shining for Brisbane affiliate club Wynnum-Manly in the Queensland Cup. He played 10 NRL games in 2021 and backed it up with a further seven in 2022 after making that year's Maori All Stars team. The New Zealand-born forward had signed an extension until the end of 2024 but was axed by the Broncos in February 2023, before the NRL season started. Mr Funch had earlier told Judge Everson Robati had "lost everything" and was working in road construction and food packaging. "He remains hopeful of resuming his professional career and he has been in discussion with one other NRL team located in Sydney," Mr Funch said. "He has been informed by his manager that once these charges are finalised then he can resume his hopes of a professional career." Mr Funch asked Judge Everson not to record a conviction against Robati owing to his disadvantaged background while growing up in New Zealand. "He was a young man thrust into the limelight, all of a sudden enjoying fame and fortune, lined with the attention of others combined with alcohol," he said. "In the surreal position with fame at such a young age he was not equipped to handle himself appropriately." In sentencing, Judge Everson said he needed to send a message society condemned those who assaulted women. "That you felt entitled to sexually assault a woman is most concerning," he said. Judge Everson said he was reluctant to affect Robati's rehabilitation and did not record a conviction for his "reprehensible behaviour". "You are still a young man, you are hoping to rehabilitate yourself and resurrect your football career," he said. Robati walked from court after being sentenced to a two-year probation order. His legal representative outside court said Robati thanked the jury for its rape trial verdict and he was ready to move on with his life. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 A former NRL player acquitted of rape has admitted groping a woman on a night out with Brisbane players, prompting teammate Patrick Carrigan to intervene. Teui "TC" Robati, 23, has been sentenced to probation for sexually assaulting the woman at a bar in a "creepy" incident witnessed by former Broncos skipper Carrigan. The ex-NRL backrower made the admission minutes after being found not guilty of two counts of raping a different woman in another incident days earlier. Robati on Wednesday pleaded guilty to indecently groping a 21-year-old woman's breast at a Brisbane bar on the night of December 21, 2022. His then-teammate - Queensland State of Origin forward Carrigan - saw Robati assault the woman and stepped in to stop him, Brisbane District Court was told. Judge William Everson told Robati his offending was "brazen and quite frankly creepy", leaving the victim feeling completely violated. "Your conduct demonstrates a very disrespectful attitude toward women," Judge Everson said. Robati had earlier been on trial charged with rape over the separate incident. Robati on Monday pleaded not guilty to raping a woman twice in the disabled toilet of a pub in the inner-Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Valley on December 11, 2022. Defence barrister David Funch had told the jury it was accepted Robati had sexual contact with the woman after exposing himself but he thought he had consent. "It's poor behaviour but poor behaviour does not make you a rapist," Mr Funch said. The jury had deliberated for nine hours since Tuesday following a trial lasting one-and-a-half days. Robati made his NRL debut in 2021 after shining for Brisbane affiliate club Wynnum-Manly in the Queensland Cup. He played 10 NRL games in 2021 and backed it up with a further seven in 2022 after making that year's Maori All Stars team. The New Zealand-born forward had signed an extension until the end of 2024 but was axed by the Broncos in February 2023, before the NRL season started. Mr Funch had earlier told Judge Everson Robati had "lost everything" and was working in road construction and food packaging. "He remains hopeful of resuming his professional career and he has been in discussion with one other NRL team located in Sydney," Mr Funch said. "He has been informed by his manager that once these charges are finalised then he can resume his hopes of a professional career." Mr Funch asked Judge Everson not to record a conviction against Robati owing to his disadvantaged background while growing up in New Zealand. "He was a young man thrust into the limelight, all of a sudden enjoying fame and fortune, lined with the attention of others combined with alcohol," he said. "In the surreal position with fame at such a young age he was not equipped to handle himself appropriately." In sentencing, Judge Everson said he needed to send a message society condemned those who assaulted women. "That you felt entitled to sexually assault a woman is most concerning," he said. Judge Everson said he was reluctant to affect Robati's rehabilitation and did not record a conviction for his "reprehensible behaviour". "You are still a young man, you are hoping to rehabilitate yourself and resurrect your football career," he said. Robati walked from court after being sentenced to a two-year probation order. His legal representative outside court said Robati thanked the jury for its rape trial verdict and he was ready to move on with his life. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
9 News
a day ago
- 9 News
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' ex says she joined 'cuckold' sex marathons to feel loved by him
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here BREAKING Socceroos lock in World Cup spot with win Under cross-examination, Sean 'Diddy' Combs ' ex-girlfriend testified that she took part in sex acts with male sex workers at the music mogul's request because it made her feel loved by him, but now regrets what she came to recognise as the 'cuckold' lifestyle. The woman testified at Combs' sex-trafficking trial under the pseudonym 'Jane' to protect her identity. A day earlier, she revealed their three-year relationship lasted until the Bad Boy Records founder was arrested in September at New York hotel, where she'd been planning to meet him. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges that carry a potential penalty of 15 years to life in prison. He has been jailed without bail. Sean 'Diddy' Combs, seen here at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, has returned his symbolic key to New York City. (Getty Images via CNN) Prosecutors allege Combs used violence, threats and a network of employees and associates to control and abuse women for two decades. His lawyers have told the jury in federal court in Manhattan that although there was domestic violence in his relationships, everything he did sexually was consensual. Earlier in the trial, R&B signer Casandra ' Cassie ' Ventura testified over four days that Combs physically abused her and that she participated in hundreds of 'freak-off' sexual performances during a nearly 11-year relationship that ended in 2018. The Associated Press doesn't name alleged victims of sexual abuse without their consent unless they have shared their identities publicly, as Cassie has. Attorney Teny Geragos, representing Combs, cross-examined Jane on Tuesday by leading her into discussing the drug-fuelled sexual marathons choreographed by Combs - which Jane said sometimes happened weekly - by reminding her that she mentioned regrets in earlier testimony. 'I resent him for leading me into the lifestyle he led me to,' Jane said. 'I resented the way he went about introducing me to this lifestyle.' She said she agreed to these 'hotel nights' while 'under a lot of emotional pressure' — and already hooked on love and a desire to stay in a relationship with Combs. Sean Diddy Combs listens during opening statements on the first day of trial in Manhattan federal court, Monday, May 12, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) (AP) Jane testified that she partook in the encounters, sometimes grudgingly, because they pleased Combs and she enjoyed spending time alone with him afterward. Jane testified she began therapy about three months ago. She previously met with lawyers on Combs' defence team but cut off those meetings in April, days before the trial began. She said she struggles to understand why she kept participating in 'hotel nights' even though she only wanted to have sex with Combs, however the reasons are 'becoming more and more clear' as she proceeds with therapy. Jane initially felt it was 'something very special' to have these secret sexual experiences with Combs. She said she didn't want to judge him and 'really wanted to just go along with these things because if I can be my partner's escapes than I would be.' Jane said she researched sexual variations in 2022 and came across the words 'cuck' and 'cuckold,' which seemed to fit the lifestyle she found herself in because she said a man known as a 'cuck' derives pleasure seeing 'his woman receive pleasure' from another man. 'He likes to use the words 'voyeurism' and 'escapism,'' Jane said. She added: 'I would use the word cuck for him more so.' Geragos reminded Jane that she had testified last week that she loves Combs currently. Geragos had Jane read aloud some of the many sexually explicit messages in which she expressed the types of activities she wanted to engage in during 'hotel nights' with Combs and male sex workers as she tried to portray Jane as a willing and eager participant in frequent sex events. In earlier testimony, Jane provided recent examples of Combs acting violently toward a woman while seeking to fulfill his sexual desires. Cassie sued Combs in November 2023 alleging sexual abuse. The lawsuit was settled within hours for US$20 million (A$30.65 million), but it touched off the criminal investigation into Combs. World courts Sean Diddy Combs USA crime CONTACT US
West Australian
a day ago
- West Australian
Combs' ex accuses him of abuse but says she loves him
An ex-girlfriend of Sean "Diddy" Combs who accuses him of kicking, punching and dragging her has testified at his sex trafficking trial that she still loves the hip-hop mogul. "He was my baby," said the woman, who is testifying under the pseudonym Jane to protect her privacy. Asked under cross-examination by defence lawyer Teny Geragos if she still loves Combs, Jane said, "I do". The woman said she enjoyed taking care of Combs, bathing him and falling asleep with him while watching television after "hotel nights", their phrase for drug-fuelled encounters in which she would have sex with male entertainers while Combs watched. The questioning was part of Combs' strategy to portray Jane as a willing participant in the sexual encounters with him, not a victim of sex trafficking as prosecutors allege. She said she agreed to these "hotel nights" while "under a lot of emotional pressure" - and already hooked on love and a desire to stay in a relationship with Combs. Jane testified that she partook in the encounters, sometimes grudgingly, because they pleased Combs and she enjoyed spending time alone with him afterward. Combs, 55, and the founder of Bad Boy Records, has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors say Combs used force and threats of cutting off financial support to coerce women into taking part in the encounters, sometimes known as "Freak Offs". Over three days under questioning by prosecutors in Manhattan federal court, Jane said that she agreed to have sex with a male escort in front of Combs early in their relationship but that he later dismissed her requests to stop and threatened to stop paying her rent. On Monday, Jane said Combs kicked, punched and dragged her during an altercation at her Los Angeles home last June. Later that night, he told her to perform oral sex on a male entertainer even though she said she did not want to, Jane said. Under questioning on Tuesday, Jane said she researched the terms "cuck" and "cuckold" during her relationship with Combs to try to understand his desires. The words refer to men who enjoy watching female partners with other men, Jane said. "I just wanted to know why my partner wanted so many of these nights and what was driving him," Jane said. Combs' defence lawyers are expected to cross-examine Jane until Thursday. Testimony is in its fifth week. Combs could face life in prison if convicted on all counts. Also known throughout his career as Puff Daddy and P Diddy, Combs turned artists like Notorious B.I.G. and Usher into stars, elevating hip-hop in American culture and becoming a billionaire in the process. with AP
