Latest news with #Victim-3
Metro
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Diddy locked women in 'days-long sex parties' and had 10-hour long freak offs
The Diddy trial is officially underway, with new reports providing details about some of the alleged sex crimes. Music mogul Diddy, 55 – whose real name is Sean Combs – denies and is defending himself against all charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering. Known throughout his 35-year career as P Diddy and Puff Daddy, among other names, Combs was one of the biggest names in 1990s and 2000s pop music. He was taken into custody in September 2024 following a federal investigation and has been held behind bars ever since. The Telegraph has reported that the court heard that the rapper 'wielded his power to force women into days-long sex parties' and encouraged them to call him 'the King'. It was also reported that those who did not comply were made them take drugs or were sexually assaulted. It was also heard that he hired a male escort to have sex with his former partner, Cassie Ventura, while Combs watched from the corner of the room in disguise. The former escort, Daniel Phillip, revealed while appearing as the second witness at the trial that these sessions could last up to 10 hours. Phillip said he was paid $5,000 (£3,700) to have sex with Ventura. She allegedly told Phillip that it was her birthday and her husband, Combs, wanted to do something nice for her. The high-profile court case hit an early stumbling block at the beginning of the day after a key witness went AWOL. The key witness – known only as Victim 3 – apparently nowhere to found, with attempts to contact them proving unsuccessful. According to reports coming from America, one of the female alleged victims, who is said to be central to the prosecutors' case, hasn't been heard from prior to the trial. Maurene Comey, the lead prosecutor, told Judge Arun Subramanian that they are having trouble getting in touch not just with Victim-3 but with her attorney, too. Comey then added that, while they may be able to contact Victim-3, the likelihood of her showing up to the trial has now had doubt cast upon it. The prosecution was asked to confirm whether they plan to call Victim-3 to testify in the trial, which sees Combs charged with five criminal counts, before a deadline. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video However, any potential calls for a mistrial or a delay to the start of the trial have not been accepted, even with Victim-3 now unlikely to ever take the stand. The trial, which began in earnest in Manhattan on May 12 after a week-long jury selection process, heard its opening statements on Monday afternoon. The legal team defending the Tell Me rapper has said that the charges related to the 'private sex lives' of Combs and the witnesses involved, adding that their relationships were 'defined by consent, not coercion'. In her opening statement, Diddy's attorney Teny Geragos said: 'Sean Combs is a complicated man. But this is not a complicated case. This case is about love, jealousy, infidelity and money. 'You will hear about swinger parties. They will testify about things that should never be heard in a federal courtroom, that he liked to watch. You may not like that, but you are not here to judge him for his sexual preferences.' Responding, the prosecution claimed that Diddy forced Ventura – into partaking in sex acts during 'freak-off' parties and assaulted her on another occasion. More Trending Ventura, 38, who was Combs' partner between 2007 and 2018, filed a lawsuit against him in 2023, accusing him of raping her and physically abusing her during their relationship. While that lawsuit was settled shortly after it was filed, footage of Combs assaulting Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel surfaced on social media in May 2024. Combs apologised for his actions in the video, but Ventura is likely to testify herself during the trial as the number of charges against Combs mounts up. With days to go before the trial began, Combs rejected a plea offer from the government to plead guilty – this could possibly have spared the Bad Boy label owner a prolonged prison sentence. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Simon Cowell gives a rare insight into family life with lookalike son Eric MORE: Miley Cyrus' dad Billy Ray breaks silence on divorce that sparked huge family feud MORE: Tom Cruise splashes out on lavish gift for rumoured girlfriend Ana De Armas
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Time of India
Diddy's sex trafficking trial faces setback as key victim may refuse to testify, prosecutors admit
Diddy trial drama: Victim-3's absence could weaken prosecution's strategy The federal trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs has taken an unexpected turn as prosecutors admitted that one of their key witnesses—identified in court documents as Victim-3—may not show up in court despite receiving a subpoena. #Operation Sindoor Live Updates| From Sindoor to showdown? Track Indo-Pak conflict as it unfolds India hits Lahore's Air Defence Radars in proportionate response Pakistan tried to hit military targets in these 15 Indian cities, New Delhi thwarts strikes During Monday's trial proceedings, including jury selection, prosecutors voiced concerns that Victim-3, who resides outside of New York City where the case is being tried, has gone cold. They told the court that both the woman and her attorney have been difficult to reach, and there's a strong possibility she 'may not show up.' Also read: Sean Diddy Combs's trial begins; these are the A-list celebrities who may be called as witnesses Continue to video 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dog licks arent kisses. Heres what your dog really means when it licks you. Novelodge Undo This revelation could undermine part of the prosecution's case against Diddy, who is facing serious charges including sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution. While Victim-3 had previously agreed to testify—reportedly waiving her right to use a pseudonym—her sudden change in stance could jeopardize the depth of the government's argument, especially during the second phase of the trial where her testimony was expected to play a more significant role. Live Events Opening arguments to proceed without Victim-3's storyline Prosecutors clarified that Victim-3's testimony won't be mentioned in detail during opening statements scheduled for May 12. They plan to refer to her only in general terms as one of several alleged victims connected to Diddy's criminal indictment. Diddy's legal team pushed for clarity, requesting prosecutors provide a final decision regarding her appearance by the end of the week. Judge Arun Subramanian backed the request, pressing prosecutors to exhaust all avenues to ensure her presence. Also read: Sean 'Diddy' Combs' says he's 'a little nervous' as sex trafficking trial gets underway This situation adds another layer of tension to an already explosive case involving one of the biggest hip-hop moguls in the U.S. legal spotlight. Cassie expected to testify despite defense pushback Meanwhile, Cassie Ventura, long identified as Victim-1 in the indictment, is expected to testify in person. Cassie, who previously filed and settled a civil suit against Diddy in 2023, is anticipated to speak openly without concealing her identity. Her lawsuit marked the beginning of a wave of additional civil allegations against Combs, though he denied all claims. Despite her prior settlement, her testimony remains central to the prosecution's narrative. Earlier, Cassie's lawyer attempted to quash a subpoena from Diddy's defense team, which sought access to her private writings, financial records, and manuscripts. The court ruled she could retain her financial documents but must surrender her personal writings. Cassie surveillance footage cleared for use in court The trial has also been shaped by the controversial surveillance video that emerged after the civil suit. The video, reportedly showing Diddy assaulting Cassie in a hotel hallway, was released by CNN after the lawsuit settlement. Also read: From mogul to defendant: Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial to begin today, faces life in prison While Diddy issued a vague statement taking 'responsibility' at the time of its release, his attorneys now argue that the footage was 'altered, manipulated, sped-up, and edited to be out of sequence.' CNN firmly denies any tampering. Despite the defense's attempt to suppress the video, Judge Subramanian ruled it admissible. The footage will be shown to the jury, potentially bolstering the credibility of Cassie's account when she takes the stand. Diddy maintains innocence amid growing legal pressure Sean Combs has pleaded not guilty to all federal charges and denies all allegations brought in civil or criminal court. His attorneys have reiterated his innocence, claiming that the mounting accusations are part of a broader attempt to tarnish his legacy. As the trial continues, the absence of Victim-3 may present a hurdle for the prosecution. However, testimonies from other key witnesses—including Cassie—and admissible video evidence could still pose significant legal risks for the music mogul.
