Prosecutors Drop Photos of Kid Cudi's Firebombed Porsche in Diddy Trial

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4 days ago

Kid Cudi testified on Thursday, May 22, in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' federal trial
He said his Porsche was destroyed by a Molotov cocktail in 2012, while prosecutors allege Diddy ordered the attack out of jealousy
Prosecutors released shocking photos of Cudi's vehicleDuring the third week of Sean "Diddy" Combs' high-profile federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial, prosecutors introduced graphic photographs showing the aftermath of a Molotov cocktail attack on rapper Kid Cudi's blue Porsche, an incident Cudi testified that Combs was behind.
The images, now part of the official trial exhibits, show extensive fire damage to the vehicle, items believed to have been used in the attack, and the emergency response outside Cudi's Hollywood Hills home in January 2012.
Los Angeles Fire Department arson investigator Lance Jimenez testified that the device was assembled using an Olde English 800 bottle, gasoline, a designer handkerchief and a lighter. The items were later tested for DNA, Jimenez said, but only the malt liquor bottle yielded results. A partial DNA profile consistent with a female contributor was identified, he said, though he acknowledged that he had no expertise in testing or analysis.
Jimenez said he observed a cut in the canvas roof of Cudi's Porsche with burn patterns throughout the seats, the center console, the interior roofing and some of the carpet. Jimenez also testified he believed that someone targeted the sports car, noting it was not easily visible from the street in an affluent neighborhood with low crime activity, and another car parked in the driveway at the time was not harmed.
Jimenez added that the bottle was discovered in the front seat of the car, consistent with accounts previously given by Kid Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi.
His testimony on May 22 followed previous claims by Casandra "Cassie" Ventura that Combs had expressed jealousy over her connection to the rapper. Mescudi took the witness stand shortly before 11 a.m. local time, with Combs staring straight ahead and avoiding any eye contact with the musician as he entered the packed courtroom.
Speaking to jurors during his nearly 90 minutes of testimony last week, Mescudi claimed his romance with Ventura started after she told him she and Combs 'had some problems' and 'weren't dating anymore.' Mescudi said he was 'really confused' when Ventura called him in a panic one morning in December 2011 to say Combs had discovered their relationship.
'She sounded really stressed on the phone, nervous, scared,' he recalled. He went to pick her up and took her to the Sunset Marquis hotel. 'I just thought it was safe and just wanted to put her somewhere where she was off the radar,' he testified. Later, when Mescudi learned that Combs was at his house, he said that he raced back home and called Combs from his car.
'Mother----, are you in my house?' Mescudi claimed he repeatedly asked Combs.
'I'm here,' Combs allegedly replied. 'I'm over here waiting for you.'
According to Mescudi, Combs had fled his house by the time he arrived. Still, he testified there were signs someone had broken in. Holiday gifts from Chanel were opened and left in the kitchen and his dog was found locked in a bathroom and traumatized. A couple of weeks later, he said that his dog sitter called to say his sports car was on fire.
Mescudi testified that someone had sliced the car's convertible roof and dropped a Molotov cocktail inside on the driver's side, while jurors saw photos of the damaged Porsche with red leather interior scorched from the flames. Cudi said he believed Combs to be responsible.
Mescudi testified he believed the music mogul "was lying" when Diddy claimed not to know what he was talking about when asked about the car explosion during a meeting at the Soho House in Los Angeles with Ventura. In response, Combs' defense team asked the court to strike Mescudi's testimony, arguing it is speculative and prejudicial as a "witness generally cannot testify that in his opinion, a declarant was lying when making a statement" and further claimed the testimony was "mere speculation," and poses "significant dangers of unfair prejudice" against Combs.
The newly released images the jury witnessed today also capture the emergency response by firefighters at the scene. Prosecutors have introduced additional exhibits as part of their case, though not all materials have been identified publicly.
While prosecutors continue to build their case around what they allege is a broader pattern of violence and intimidation from Combs, Mescudi's testimony and new exhibits mark yet another series of bombshell revelations about Combs' alleged jealous rage and psychological abuse of Ventura, who has claimed the rapper controlled her life for 11 years.
The Bad Boy Records founder is currently facing charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution, which he has adamantly denied.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
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