A former worker of Sean “Diddy” Combs broke down in tears as she described being sexually assaulted by the hip-hop star on a number of events – telling the court docket the alleged abuse was “the most traumatising, worst thing that’s ever happened to me”.
Three weeks into the trial, Mia* is the second alleged sufferer to testify in opposition to Combs, following his former companion Cassie’s proof alleging years of bodily, sexual and emotional abuse.
Whereas Cassie waived her proper to anonymity, Mia didn’t need to be recognized and is showing in court docket in Manhattan, New York, underneath a pseudonym.
She began by telling the court docket about witnessing Combs, 55, being violent in direction of Cassie, earlier than shifting on to speak about her personal experiences.
Diddy trial day twelve – because it occurred
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Combs’s motherJanice Combs has been supporting him in court docket on daily basis. Pic: Reuters
Mia instructed the court docket she as soon as woke to search out Combs on prime of her and that he compelled her to have intercourse in opposition to her will. One other time, he compelled her to carry out oral intercourse, she alleged.
He additionally as soon as threw a bucket of ice on her head and slammed her arm right into a door on one other event, she mentioned.
The court docket heard Mia had by no means instructed anybody in regards to the alleged sexual assaults by Combs till she spoke to authorities investigators for this case.
“I was going to die with this,” she mentioned, turning into tearful on the stand. “I didn’t want anyone to know ever.”
Telling the court docket she couldn’t say “no” to her former boss, she mentioned: “I knew his power. And his control. I didn’t want to lose everything that I worked so hard for.”
She additionally mentioned she feared being attacked and was “always” apprehensive about being bodily harm by Combs. “I didn’t want to die or get hurt.”
Mia mentioned she felt “desperate”, “terrified and trapped” and described the alleged sexual assaults as “the most shameful thing of my life”, and “the most traumatising, worst thing that’s ever happened to me”.
Requested why she is talking out now, she instructed the court docket: “Because I have to tell the truth.”
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Marc Agnifilo, considered one of Diddy’s defence legal professionals, pictured outdoors court docket. Pic: Reuters/ Eduardo Munoz
‘Chaotic and poisonous’
Mia, faltering at instances, mentioned working for Combs got here with excessive highs and lows.
Generally he would provide recommendation and act like her “protector”, she mentioned. Different instances, he would “humiliate” her and berate her for small errors, and work her so arduous she had little sleep, she mentioned.
“It was chaotic. It was toxic,” she instructed the court docket.
Combs’s staff had been at all times on edge as a result of his temper might “change in a split second”, inflicting all the pieces to go from “happy to chaotic”, she mentioned.
Mia instructed how she was barely at dwelling as soon as she began working for Combs. Like different staff, she usually slept at his properties in LA, Miami and New York.
She instructed the court docket she was not allowed to depart with out his permission and was not allowed lock her door, regardless that it appeared as if different members of the predominantly male safety employees had been ready to take action.
“This is my house. No one locks the doors,” Combs allegedly mentioned to her.
On one event, Mia mentioned she labored with out sleeping for 5 days, with prescribed drugs getting her by means of it. It was solely when she had a bodily breakdown that Combs allowed her to sleep, jurors had been instructed.
Mia’s testimony echoed that of prior prosecution witnesses, together with a number of of Combs’s different former staff, in addition to Cassie.
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King Combs and Quincy Brown, two of Combs’s sons, had been in court docket for in the present day’s session. Pic: Reuters/ Eduardo Munoz
Cassie, an R’n’B singer and mannequin whose authorized identify is Casandra Ventura, spoke for 4 days through the first week of the trial.
She instructed jurors her ex-partner subjected her to lots of of “freak offs” – drug-fuelled marathons during which she mentioned she engaged in intercourse acts with male intercourse staff whereas he watched and filmed them.
Closely pregnant on the time, it was confirmed in court docket yesterday that she gave delivery to her third baby earlier this week.
Mia is the second of three girls testifying about alleged sexual abuse by Combs. The third girl, utilizing the pseudonym “Jane”, can also be anticipated to testify about collaborating in freak offs.
Combs has pleaded not responsible to prices of intercourse trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to have interaction in prostitution.
Throughout their opening assertion, his legal professionals conceded he may very well be violent at instances, however mentioned that didn’t make him a intercourse trafficker or racketeering chief. Combs denies utilizing threats or his music trade clout to commit or cowl up abuse.
What did Mia say about Cassie?
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Cassie, who was closely pregnant when she testified, has now given delivery to her third baby. Pic: Reuters/ Jane Rosenberg
Within the first a part of her testimony, Mia instructed the court docket she noticed Combs beating Cassie on a number of events and that she sustained accidents, together with black eyes, different bruises, and fats lips.
The 2 turned pals, she mentioned, and are nonetheless pals in the present day.
Mia described a celebration at Prince’s home that she and Cassie “snuck out” to, saying Prince’s safety needed to intervene when Combs turned up and began to assault her.
She additionally described a visit to a personal island in Turks and Caicos, within the Caribbean, saying she remembers Cassie being “terrified” as Combs banged on her door “screaming”.
On one other event throughout that journey, they used paddle boards to exit to sea to get away from him, she mentioned – however the climate modified and the sky turned darkish.
“I was trying to weigh if it was scarier to face Mother Nature or go back to Puff,” Mia mentioned, utilizing the identify she knew him by. “We eventually went back to Puff.”
Combs was additionally abusive to Cassie on the Cannes Movie Competition in 2012, the court docket was instructed. Mia alleged she noticed him digging his nails into her as they watched a movie.
Mia’s testimony will proceed when the trial resumes on Friday.
