Latest news with #Victim3
CNN
23-05-2025
- CNN
Victim-3 not expected to testify in the Sean ‘Diddy' Combs federal criminal trial, source says
A woman identified as Victim-3 in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs federal criminal case is not expected to take the stand in his trial, according to a source familiar with the case. 'She didn't want to testify,' the source said, not providing any further details. Victim-3 was referenced in the government's superseding indictment as part of the racketeering conspiracy count. The indictment states that Combs and his associates wielded power through his business empire to 'intimidate, threaten and lure' at least three female victims – 'Victim-1,' 'Victim-2' and 'Victim-3' – under the pretense of a romantic relationship and coerced them into engaging in commercial sex acts. Prosecutors allege some of these sex acts, known as 'Freak Offs,' involved male sex workers who were transported across state lines. Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges that include racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. Three sources familiar with the case told CNN that Victim-3 is the woman who has been referred to as 'Gina' throughout Combs' trial, which began with jury selection on May 5. Gina has been described in testimony as an ex-girlfriend of Combs. CNN has reached out to Victim-3, regarding her participation in the case. This week, Combs' former assistant George Kaplan testified that he once witnessed Combs throwing apples at Gina at his home in Miami. Cassie Ventura, the case's star witness and another former girlfriend of Combs, testified that Combs was unfaithful to her by dating Gina throughout their 11-year relationship. Ventura's former best friend, Kerry Morgan, corroborated Ventura's account in her own testimony, saying on the stand that Gina was source of contention between Ventura and Combs. Prosecutors indicated in early May that they were not certain if they planned to call Victim-3 to the stand as a part of their case. Assistant US Attorney Maurene Comey said at the time that while Victim-3 was under subpoena to testify, 'she may not show up.' Comey noted that it's been difficult to get in touch with Victim 3's lawyer. In court on Wednesday, outside the presence of the jury, defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said that Gina 'is out of the case. Gina is not coming.' Assistant US Attorney Christy Slavik said that Gina was 'very much a part of this case,' adding that she was identified in the indictment. CNN has reached out to the prosecutor's office for comment. 'My point is not an indictment issue. The government can call Gina if it wants to,' Agnifilo responded. 'It might be difficult. It might be hard to do. They are the United States of America. They can get Gina into this courtroom if that is what they want to do.' CNN has reached out to a representative for Combs for comment. CNN's Kara Scannell and Nicki Brown contributed to this report
CNN
23-05-2025
- CNN
Victim-3 not expected to testify in the Sean ‘Diddy' Combs federal criminal trial, source says
A woman identified as Victim-3 in the Sean 'Diddy' Combs federal criminal case is not expected to take the stand in his trial, according to a source familiar with the case. 'She didn't want to testify,' the source said, not providing any further details. Victim-3 was referenced in the government's superseding indictment as part of the racketeering conspiracy count. The indictment states that Combs and his associates wielded power through his business empire to 'intimidate, threaten and lure' at least three female victims – 'Victim-1,' 'Victim-2' and 'Victim-3' – under the pretense of a romantic relationship and coerced them into engaging in commercial sex acts. Prosecutors allege some of these sex acts, known as 'Freak Offs,' involved male sex workers who were transported across state lines. Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges that include racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. Three sources familiar with the case told CNN that Victim-3 is the woman who has been referred to as 'Gina' throughout Combs' trial, which began with jury selection on May 5. Gina has been described in testimony as an ex-girlfriend of Combs. CNN has reached out to Victim-3, regarding her participation in the case. This week, Combs' former assistant George Kaplan testified that he once witnessed Combs throwing apples at Gina at his home in Miami. Cassie Ventura, the case's star witness and another former girlfriend of Combs, testified that Combs was unfaithful to her by dating Gina throughout their 11-year relationship. Ventura's former best friend, Kerry Morgan, corroborated Ventura's account in her own testimony, saying on the stand that Gina was source of contention between Ventura and Combs. Prosecutors indicated in early May that they were not certain if they planned to call Victim-3 to the stand as a part of their case. Assistant US Attorney Maurene Comey said at the time that while Victim-3 was under subpoena to testify, 'she may not show up.' Comey noted that it's been difficult to get in touch with Victim 3's lawyer. In court on Wednesday, outside the presence of the jury, defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said that Gina 'is out of the case. Gina is not coming.' Assistant US Attorney Christy Slavik said that Gina was 'very much a part of this case,' adding that she was identified in the indictment. CNN has reached out to the prosecutor's office for comment. 'My point is not an indictment issue. The government can call Gina if it wants to,' Agnifilo responded. 'It might be difficult. It might be hard to do. They are the United States of America. They can get Gina into this courtroom if that is what they want to do.' CNN has reached out to a representative for Combs for comment. CNN's Kara Scannell and Nicki Brown contributed to this report
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Feds' Sean 'Diddy' Combs Case In Danger As Key Witness Remains AWOL On Eve Of NYC Trial Start
EXCLUSIVE: Hours before opening statements in Sean 'Diddy' Combs's sex-trafficking trial are set to start before a yet-to-be-seated jury, the defense is poised to take advantage of a self-wound of sorts by the prosecution. As of Sunday night, the U.S. Attorney's office for the Southern District of New York have yet to re-established contact with a key witness against the Bad Boy Records founder, I hear. More from Deadline John Oliver Mocks Trump's Comments About Dolls: "Every Single Way This Man Refers To Girls Makes My Skin Want To Turn Inside Out" 'Shogun' Showrunner Celebrates BAFTA Win By Declaring: Good TV Is "Borderless" Amid Trump Tariff Threat Jonathan Pryce Worries He Could Be Denied Entry To U.S. For Speaking Mind On Trump's Tariff Plan Only a few weeks ago, Victim-3, as she is called in the indictment against Combs, had pledged to testify in the criminal trial that will likely see the plea deal rejecting Grammy winning defendant in prison for the rest of his life if found guilty. Shielded from having to give her real name, Victim-3, according to court filings, would have detailed for the court and the jury just how Diddy 'sexually exploited' her, Now embarrassingly nowhere to be found, the non-NYC based Victim-3 may provide Combs' Marc Agnifilo, Teny Geragos and Brian Steel-led legal team with the tools to bring the case to a stand-still, at least for now. Expected before Judge Arun Subramanian at around 8:30 a.m. ET to solidify the jury and hear an update on Victim-3 from the feds, the defense are planning to ask for mistrial or seek a delay in the start of the trial, sources tell me. Hopes of a mistrial being declared is a bit of a Hail Mary, let's be honest. The desire for a postponement, on the other hand, has some strong legal legs. Contacted by Deadline earlier Sunday about the status of Victim-3 and the possible outcomes if she doesn't testify, the SDNY declined to comment, according to a spokesperson. Law enforcement sources say that they believe Victim-3 has gone dark out of fears for her safety, but would not give any specifics. The defense did not respond to request for comment on the likelihood that Victim-3 will not be participating in the trial and what that could mean. Predicted to last eight weeks, the criminal trial of the much-accused Diddy follows his arrest last September on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and more. Outside the recently spruced up lower Manhattan federal courthouse around a dozen people were already in line on Sunday evening ahead of Monday's trial start. Across the street, some TV crew equipment was already in place, as are designated spots for outlets like the AP, the BBC, local channels and cabler newsers. One of the big attractions is Combs' former long-term girlfriend Cassie Ventura a.k.a. Victim-1, who is expected to testify under her own name as early as Monday if the trial goes forward. Now heavily pregnant with her and husband Alex Fine's third child, Ventura was paid off in the tens of millions in late 2023 to quickly drop her own assault and abuse civil suit against Combs. The 'Me & U' singer was thrust back into the spotlight in spring 2024 when CNN obtained and broadcast a seemingly damning and now defense disputed 2016 hotel security footage of a half-naked Combs beating Ventura in the hall and dragging her back to their room. The defense alleges the footage, which their client had previously apologized for the violence he is shown committing, was doctored and doesn't tell the whole story. If Victim-3 is a no-show for the feds, as it seems she will indeed be, the thrust of the defense's argument in both its mistrial and delay requests Monday morning will be that the rules of the game have changed with one of the four main witnesses alleging rape and other sordid sex crimes by Combs out of the picture. One of the practical consequences of that change is that the defense will be required to reorientate its strategy for its 'All About the Benjamins' client — and that doesn't happen overnight. Whether or not the time conscious Judge Subramanian goes for it will be determined early tomorrow at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse. Yet, unless Victim-3 shows up or a definitive date for her testimony is established, the defense has a win of sorts in their pocket either way. If the judge agrees to a mistrial or a postponement, the win is obvious. There will be a trial starting this week if Judge Subramanian says that Victim-1/Ventura and two other witnesses will be testifying along with the newly introduced Victim-5, and that should suffice. Even if that is the outcome, then circumstance will have planted the seeds for a near certain fast appeal if the jury's verdict doesn't go in Combs' favor. Even before the trial proper has begun, the water is murky around the Combs prosecution and defense in other aspects too Engaging in the legal equivalent of trench warfare for their high-profile client ever since his arrest by the NYPD and feds, the defense said on May 9 that they would concede that 55-year-old Combs has committed 'domestic violence' in his 2007 – 2018 relationship with Ventura. Tempering that, Combs' team exclaimed 'there was mutual violence.' At that May 9 hearing, one of Combs' lawyers Alexandra Shapiro said to nods from her client at the defense table: 'The dynamic between these two individuals is at the very heart of this case.' Incarcerated in Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center since last fall, Combs will also admit he had an unconventional sex life and 'swinger' lifestyle. With that and having entered a not guilty plea three times now, Combs and his team have repeatedly also insisted the so-called 'freak offs' were consensual and not drug and boozed fueled brutalities as the feds have portrayed them to be. To that, in this case of failed $50M bail attempts, claims of the feds having a racial bias, and early 2024 raids on the one-time mogul's LA and Miami homes, the crisis of the missing witness has been festering for nearly a week. Mentioned almost as an aside during jury selection last week, the subject of the suddenly unreachable Victim-3, came up on May 9 in what was supposed to be near formality of a hearing. At that time, on Friday Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey (Yes, a daughter of ex-FBI director James Comey, who Donald Trump fired in 2017) promised there would have a yes or no by EOD that same day if Victim-3 was going to show up or not. There is no indication on the court docket or otherwise, says a well-positioned source, that such an EOD information either way was ever given to the court. This is not going to garner the prosecution any points with Judge Subramanian The judge, who practiced commercial and bankruptcy law before then-President Joe Biden nominated him to the bench, runs his courtroom with an upbeat efficiency that feels imported from the white collar workplace: He's often very much in the mode of the project leader keeping his team on task and on schedule, using encouragement and an even temperament to steer the case through months of pretrial maneuvering and potential roadblocks towards Monday's scheduled opening arguments and probably testimony. But on Friday there was concern and maybe a touch of irritation in the judge's voice as he contemplated the missing prosecution witness Victim-3, a last-minute appeal from one jury finalist to be excused from the case, and the possibility of other prospective jurors trying to back out of their service over the weekend. After several days of whittling a jury pool of 150 down to 43, with a goal of getting to the 18 who will hear the case (12 jurors and six alternates), Judge Subramanian said on Friday that he was looking for 'some certainty that you're not going to have to re-do jury selection' — a state of affairs that sounded like a worst case scenario coming from this keenly organized judge. Now, it might be the least of his concerns come Monday morning. Best of Deadline All The Songs In Netflix's 'Forever': From Tyler The Creator To SZA 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery
Fox News
10-05-2025
- Fox News
Missing key witness cripples Diddy prosecution as trial hits roadblocks before it begins: expert
As opening statements in Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex-trafficking trial are set to kick off Monday, the defense and prosecution have seemingly run into a few roadblocks. The prosecution has lost communication with Victim 3 and cannot locate her, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey. "The disappearance of a key victim at trial is crippling for the prosecution," attorney John J. Perlstein told Fox News Digital. "I doubt it impacts other counts; however, it will severely impact the one relating to the AWOL victim. A lot of times, people reconsider wanting to be involved in such a high-profile matter. Good prosecutors will adapt and, hopefully, their case is not dependent on the cooperation of one person." No-shows "add stress" to any trial and witnesses can become non-responsive for many reasons, according to Judie Saunders, partner of NYC-based ASK LLP. "If this witness doesn't show, that's a problem," entertainment lawyer Tre Lovell explained to Fox News Digital. "One of the biggest questions in this prosecution is the small number of victim-witnesses in light of all the civil lawsuits and 'victims' out there. "To have only three to four actual victims testifying against allegations of two decades-long criminality is telling. Although the government will have other witnesses to testify (i.e. staff workers, Diddy associates, people that were part of his entourage), the victims will be the most compelling and important people on the stand." Diddy has been charged with racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution in a federal indictment unsealed Sept. 17. He has maintained his innocence. If found guilty, he faces a minimum of 15 years behind bars or a maximum sentence of life in prison. Authorities allege Diddy ran a criminal enterprise through his businesses, including Bad Boy Entertainment, Combs Enterprises and Combs Global, among others. He used "firearms, threats of violence, coercion and verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse" to fulfill his sexual desires, according to prosecutors. While opening statements will begin Monday, the jury panel has yet to be finalized, according to Friday's status conference in the case. Diddy's legal team was concerned about jurors getting cold feet over the weekend, and Judge Arun Subramanian agreed. "This doesn't necessarily signal a struggle to seat the jury; it's more about being cautious and setting the trial up for a smooth start with minimal disruptions," criminal defense lawyer Jo-Anna Nieves told Fox News Digital. "It's a thoughtful and fairly common precaution." Criminal defense attorney Eric Faddis added, "It's normal for different phases of the trial to take longer than expected, but apparently at least one of the 45 potential jurors remaining has recently asked to be removed from this controversial, high-profile case." Diddy's lawyer has also revealed the defense plans to introduce the idea that there was mutual violence in the rapper's relationships. Legal experts explained this tactic is "risky and complicated." "The defense is essentially arguing that the relationship with Victim 1 was volatile on both sides, so it shouldn't be seen as one-sided abuse or coercion," Nieves explained. "That might sound plausible at first, but in court, mutual violence doesn't automatically cancel out claims of coercion. The focus will be on who held the power in the relationship. If Diddy controlled the situation through money, status, threats or manipulation, then any violence from the other party won't excuse or equalize that dynamic." "Jurors also tend to be turned off by strategies that seem like victim-blaming," she continued. "Trying to make the victim look just as responsible can backfire, especially if there's evidence that Diddy was the primary aggressor. This approach might raise some questions in the jury's mind, but it's a strategy that depends heavily on context and credibility." A "mutual combat" defense "doesn't transform an allegedly non-consensual sexual encounter into a consensual one," Faddis added. "Though, if accepted as true, it may mitigate Diddy's alleged actions in the eyes of the jurors." Diddy's mutual violence position is likely going to be used to undercut the video of the rapper engaging in a physical altercation with ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura. "Diddy's legal team needs to distance the Cassie Ventura hotel video from the allegations in this case and 'box it,'" Lovell explained. "This means describe it as a mutually violent altercation, a fight between two people in a romantic, decade-long relationship that has everything to do with private issues (i.e. infidelity) between a couple as opposed to racketeering or sex trafficking." Diddy also faces testimony from Ventura. The musician, who is pregnant, is set to testify using her real name in the trial, People magazine reported. Other alleged victims have been allowed to testify using pseudonyms. "Cassie will gain sympathy from the jury as being an assault victim and the fact she is a soon-to-be mother," Lovell noted. "Nevertheless, Diddy's team can remind the jury of how long ago this was, and that she was very different back then. Appearance before a jury is always very important, for both the defendant and credibility of witnesses, but the attorneys can diffuse this through evidence and reminding the jury that everyone in court will be on their best behavior and, by design, not exhibit the conduct for which they are either the subject of the prosecution or a testifying witness." While the "Me & U" singer's current pregnancy doesn't "erase proof" of an allegedly violent past, Perlstein — a top Los Angeles litigator — told Fox News Digital, it could help her seem sympathetic on the stand. Ventura's pregnancy "only increases the likelihood" that jurors will view her as a "sympathetic witness," Faddis told Fox News Digital. "It also undercuts the defense's argument that Cassie, a woman modest in stature, is somehow equally involved in and responsible for the alleged physical altercations between the two." Diddy has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and denied all the allegations.
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Diddy trial thrown into chaos as key witness goes MISSING
A star witness in the Sean ' Diddy ' Combs trial is reportedly MIA, throwing the disgraced Bad Boy mogul's sex trafficking case into chaos,. Opening statements are set to begin next week. But federal prosecutors have been left scrambling. They can't find one of the female victims who is central to their case. She does not live in New York where the Combs' trial is being held. Lead prosecutor Maurene Comey told US District Judge Arun Subramanian on Wednesday that they are having a difficult time contacting 'Victim 3' and her attorney. Prosecutors had mentioned Victim 3 plans to disclose 'very personal and explosive details' concerning abuse she allegedly suffered under Combs. Comey told the judge that even if they are able to reach the unnamed victim, she 'may not show up. Defense attorney Teny Geragos demanded that the prosecution make a decision by the end of the week on whether they still plan to call Victim 3 to testify. The prosecutions' admission that they cannot reach one of their star witnesses came as a shock after they told the judge in an April 29 memo that Victim 3 'did not wish to use a pseudonym during her testimony.' Prosecutors filed a third superseding indictment in April that added an additional charge of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution related to Victim 3. Combs is facing a total of five counts, including racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution in connection to four alleged victims who were forced to participate in drug-fueled 'freak offs', prosecutors claim. Combs' legal team has said the addition of charges are nothing new. 'These are not new allegations or new accusers,' the defense attorneys said. 'These are the same individuals, former long-term girlfriends, who were involved in consensual relationships. This was their private sex life, defined by consent, not coercion.' Prosecutors this week tried to play down the bombshell news that one of their star witnesses possibly dropping from the case. Comey told the judge there are still 'many, many acts of racketeering apart from Victim 3.' While Victim 3's identity remains unknown to the public, Geragos said in court the woman has been around Combs 'for a long time.' Combs has plead not guilty to all the charges. His defense team has said the alleged victims are ex-girlfriends who willingly participated in threesomes. Prosecutors have said 'Victim 1', Cassie Ventura, plans to testify using her own name. The judge had approved prosecutors' request for Victims 2 and 4 to testify under pseudonyms. Combs appeared in court this week as both sides questioned potential jurors. More than 600 potential jurors filled out questionnaires, which included questions about their feelings about domestic partner violence, their hobbies and the types of music and media they consume regularly. A total of 45 have made it to the final stage of jury selection on Wednesday. Both sides will come back on Friday where both sides will go over which individuals they want to strike off the jury list. Combs, who has been sporting gray hair and beard, told the judge on Monday that he was ' a little nervous' and asked Judge Arun Subramanian for a bathroom break. In a shocking decision, Combs rejected a last-minute plea deal from prosecutors last week. He faces life in prison if convicted on all charges.
