Diddy trial live: Judge and lawyers joke about Kid Cudi's dog as sex-trafficking trial restarts

Sky News

22-05-2025

14:29:04
Asked to hold $50,000 cash
Kaplan is being questioned by prosecutor Maurene Comey.
He says he was "infrequently" asked to carry cash for Diddy, recalling one time in 2015 when he says he was asked "to hold" $50,000 cash by security.
He also says he was asked to pick up $10,000 from Western Union that had been wired from Combs Enterprises, which he says he gave to Diddy, around two or three times.
Kaplan clarifies that he is in court after being subpoenaed, and says he has an immunity order, meaning his testimony will not be used against him.
He adds, "it does not protect me if I lie today".
14:16:17
Diddy's ex-assistant returns to the stand
George Kaplan, a former assistant to Diddy, is back on the stand, after starting his evidence yesterday.
The jury is also back in the court room.
14:15:44
Judge and lawyers joke about Kid Cudi's dog before hearing starts
The judge and the lawyers are discussing what we can expect to hear in court today, and which items the judge is happy to be presented in front of the jury.
The conversation moves to Kid Cudi, who we will see in court later this afternoon, and who is a central figure in the case, having dated Cassie in 2011.
Defence lawyer Brian Steele says the prosecution is intending to discuss Cudi's dog being shut in a room in December 2011, adding that he wasn't expecting them to present testimony that the "dog acted differently and is now traumatised".
Prosecution lawyer Christy Slavik says the location of the dog is central to understanding if anyone was home or not, which speaks to a later break-in at the home that will be discussed as evidence.
The judge jokes that Cudi is "not going to testify what the dog thought", which elicits laughter from those in the court.
Steele says there may well be "dog lovers" on the jury, to which Slavik adds, "unfortunately, the dog is no longer with us".
14:03:39
Court resumes on day nine of trial
Judge Arun Subramanian has taken the bench, but we are still waiting for the jury to come back in.
When we get going, one of Diddy's ex-assistants, George Kaplan, is due to continue his testimony, which he began yesterday.
13:45:57
A reminder of the charges
While we wait for court to start again today, here's a reminder of the five felony charges faced by Sean "Diddy" Combs:
Racketeering conspiracy;
Two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion;
Two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
The rapper was initially charged with three offences - racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Two extra counts - one each of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution - were added earlier in April.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
What the charges mean
Racketeering broadly means engaging in an illegal scheme or enterprise, and the charge falls under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act (RICO) in the US.
According to the US justice department's definition of RICO statute, it is also illegal to "conspire to violate" the laws.
The prosecution alleges that between 2008 and 2024, Combs "led a racketeering conspiracy that engaged in sex trafficking, forced labour, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice, among other crimes".
13:19:48
Who is Scott Mescudi - better known as Kid Cudi?
Scott Mescudi, better known as Kid Cudi, dated Casandra Ventura in 2011. He is expected to testify in court today.
If you've been following the trial, you'll know Combs is facing a number of allegations from Cassie, so Mescudi's evidence today could focus again on her relationship with Diddy.
Cassie testified last week that Combs kicked her in the back at his house after finding out she was cheating on him with Mescudi in 2011.
Mescudi is a rapper, singer and music producer.
The 41-year-old from Cleveland, Ohio, is known for hits like Day 'N' Nite, Pursuit Of Happiness and Mr Rager.
He has collaborated with other artists, such as Kanye West, on 2010's Erase Me.
In January 2024, he released his 10th studio album, INSANO. That included contributions from the likes of Lil Wayne, Travis Scott and Pharrell.
Last year, he also announced he was taking a break from music to focus on his film and TV career.
Mescudi has previously spoken of his desire to work more as an actor. He's appeared in sitcoms like Brooklyn Nine-Nine and the Netflix film Don't Look Up.
13:19:01
Welcome back
Welcome back to our coverage of the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs.
The rapper faces five felony charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
During the eighth day of the trial yesterday, the court heard from George Kaplan, former assistant to Combs, who described setting up hotel rooms for Diddy, and clearing up afterwards.
Kaplan said it was implied his job was to protect Combs and his public image, and said that Combs threatened his job on occasion.
We also heard from Dawn Hughes, a clinical and forensic psychologist, who didn't speak about the Diddy case specifically, but explained the nature of abusive relationships and how they can impact victims.
Lastly we heard from Gerard Gannon, Homeland Security agent who gave more details on what was found during the raid of Combs' property, and showed photos of guns and bullets recovered in the search.
Today, we are expecting to hear from Scott Mescudi, who is known professionally as Kid Cudi. He dated Cassie in 2011.
Stay with us for the latest.
20:51:24
Court ends for the day - scroll down to catch up
That concludes our live coverage of the eighth day of the trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs.
If you're just checking in, here is a recap of the testimony from today's witnesses.
George Kaplan, former assistant to Combs
The court heard how Kaplan set up hotel rooms for Combs, including clothes, candles, baby oil, Astroglide [lubricant], and that Combs would host a female partner;
After Combs left, it would be Kaplan's job to collect his belongings, clear up the baby oil and tidy away "lots" of liquor bottles, the court heard;
Kaplan said it was implied his job was to protect Combs and his public image;
Combs threatened his job on occasion, he added.
Gerard Gannon, Homeland Security agent
Gannon gave more details on what was found during the raid of Combs' property;
Residue that tested positive for cocaine and ketamine was found inside a Gucci bag, as well as MDMA pills, a meth fragment, and evidence of ketamine and xanax, the court heard;
The court was shown a photo of a closet in a hallway containing 25 bottles of baby oil and 31 bottles of Astroglide lubricant;
Male escort Sharay Hayes has previously testified that baby oil was used during sexual encounters with Combs and his ex-girlfriend, Casandra Ventura;
Guns and bullets were also found;
Defence lawyer Teny Geragos tried to show that the guns were kept safely stored and the magazines were not loaded into the receivers;
He seemed to suggest investigators manipulated what they found for the photos and arranged them in a way that looked nefarious.
Dawn Hughes, clinical and forensic psychologist
Hughes was giving evidence as a blind witness, so she had not reviewed evidence in the case and was not there to comment on specifics;
Instead, she outlined the nature of abusive relationships and how they can impact victims;
She talked about how it was common for victims to stay in abusive relationships and to delay disclosing abuse until some time after it had occurred;
Substance abuse was a very common coping mechanism to numb the pain, she said;
PTSD could make recalling information difficult, she said.
20:37:00
In pictures: Seized guns and messages scrawled on Diddy's mirror
We can now bring you some more images submitted by the prosecution, taken during a Homeland Security raid of Sean Combs' property.
Messages scrawled on a mirror read "What do you want?" and "you a legend".
Other photographs show weapons and pills that the court heard were seized during testimony earlier today.