Sean "Diddy" Combs Trial: Comprehensive Breakdown of Witness Testimonies Revealing Patterns of Abuse and Violence

During court proceedings, Sean 'Diddy' Combs expressed that he was "truly sorry" for his actions.

Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex crimes trial featured testimony from 34 witnesses. These included former girlfriends Cassie and Jane, who testified that he coerced them into participating in drug-fueled sexual marathons, a sex worker known as "The Punisher," personal assistants who reported witnessing violence, and additional women who alleged abuse.

A judge sentenced Combs on Friday to four years and two months in prison. In July, Combs was convicted of transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution purposes.

Although Combs was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges, the judge considered his history of violence against women when determining the sentence.

Below are some of the key witnesses and their testimonies during the trial.

R&B singer Cassie, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, had a relationship with Combs from 2007 to 2018 after signing with his Bad Boy Records label. Her four-day testimony described how Combs physically abused her and forced her to engage in "disgusting" sexual acts with male sex workers during multi-day "freak-offs." She also testified that Combs raped her after she attempted to end their relationship.

Security cameras at the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles captured Combs hitting, kicking, and dragging Cassie in 2016. This footage was repeatedly shown during the trial. A hotel security guard testified that Combs paid $100,000 to conceal the video, which remained hidden until CNN aired it in May 2024.

Jane, testifying under a pseudonym, dated Combs from 2021 until his arrest last year. The model stated that despite repeatedly expressing her unwillingness to have sexual encounters with other men, Combs continued pressuring her. She felt "obligated" partly because he covered her rent expenses.

Last year, Jane testified, Combs put her in a chokehold, punched her face, and forced her to participate in an encounter with a sex worker, telling her: "You're not going to ruin my night like this." Both women testified that Combs threatened to release sexual videos of them if they refused his demands.

Rapper Kid Cudi testified that Combs broke into his home in late 2011 after discovering his relationship with Cassie. A few weeks later, his Porsche was firebombed. Cudi, whose legal name is Scott Mescudi, stated he believed Combs "had something to do" with it, though Combs denied involvement. Cudi expressed doubt about Combs' denial.

Daniel Phillip, an exotic dancer who participated in "freak-offs" from 2012 to 2014, testified receiving payments ranging from $700 to $6,000 to have sex with Cassie while Combs watched and directed them. He recalled Combs instructing: "You need to rub more baby oil on each other. You don't have enough on."

Phillip also described an incident where Cassie jumped into his lap - her body trembling - after sounds of Combs apparently slapping and slamming her in an adjacent room. He stopped meeting the couple after witnessing Combs throw a bottle at Cassie before dragging her by her hair into a bedroom while she screamed.

Sharay Hayes, an exotic dancer known as "The Punisher," testified that Cassie used the pretense of a birthday striptease to lure him to his first "freak-off." He described seeing baby oil bottles in water bowls and receiving $800 in cash initially. After Combs watched him have sex with Cassie, Hayes received an additional $1,200.

Combs concealed his identity during their early meetings, and Hayes only realized who he was after seeing a message on a hotel room TV stating: "Essex House would like to welcome Mr. Sean Combs."

Former Combs employee Capricorn Clark testified that Combs arrived at her home with a gun on the day of the break-in, demanding she accompany him because "we're going to kill Cudi."

Following the break-in, Clark stated, Combs instructed her to convince Cudi "it wasn't me." She recalled him threatening, "If you don't convince him of that I'll kill all you," followed by an expletive.

A former personal assistant testifying as "Mia" alleged that Combs sexually assaulted her multiple times, including putting his hand up her dress and forcibly kissing her at his 40th birthday celebration in 2009, forcing her to perform oral sex on another occasion, and raping her in 2010. Combs' legal team denied these allegations.

When confronted during cross-examination with affectionate messages she sent to Combs long after her employment ended, she explained: "I was still brainwashed."

Cassie's friend Bryana "Bana" Bongolan testified that Combs dangled her over the railing of Cassie's 17th-floor balcony and threw her onto patio furniture in September 2016, leaving her bruised and traumatized.

Defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland, however, revealed inconsistencies in her account, demonstrating that Combs was touring on the East Coast in 2016 when she claimed to have suffered the injuries shown to jurors in a photograph she had taken.

George Kaplan testified about discarding liquor bottles and drugs, and cleaning baby oil from Combs' hotel rooms. He resigned after witnessing Combs fighting with Cassie but did not report it to authorities. Kaplan admitted he still sends Combs birthday greetings and had invited him to his wedding, expressing gratitude for working with Combs and maintaining "a great deal of respect" for him.

David James testified that while working as a personal assistant from May 2007 to May 2009, often for up to 20 hours daily, Combs had him stock hotel rooms with baby oil, condoms, Viagra, and other supplies. James recalled seeing Combs with three handguns on his lap during a drive to confront record industry rival Suge Knight in 2008.

James also described an incident when Combs asked him to retrieve his iPod from his residence. Upon entering when no one answered the door, James saw Cassie on the bed covered with a white comforter and a "completely naked" unidentified man who walked "across the room and kind of scurried away."

Brendan Paul, who served as Combs' personal assistant for approximately 18 months until March 2024, testified to purchasing drugs for Combs, including cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy, and marijuana.

His employment terminated when he was arrested at a Miami, Florida airport for cocaine possession, which he testified came from Combs' room.

Combs' lawyers confronted celebrity stylist Deonte Nash with messages expressing affection for Combs, some sent in 2019 and 2020, two years after their professional relationship ended.

Though reluctant to testify for the prosecution, Nash provided insights into Cassie and Combs' relationship, stating that Cassie "quite often" had bruises on her legs, arms, and neck, including an incident where Combs left her with a large, bloody gash above her eye during a beating.

Dawn Richard, a singer in the Bad Boy Records groups Danity Kane and Diddy - Dirty Money, testified to witnessing Combs' violent behavior toward Cassie, including swinging at her with a skillet and beating her in 2009. She stated that Combs threatened her, which she interpreted as a death threat, to ensure her silence.

Combs' legal team argued that Richard's account lacked consistency and suggested she was motivated to testify against him because she has filed a lawsuit against him.