As the trial kicks off, these notions could be defused—or they might potentially become even more sensationalized when prosecutors unfurl their case.
May 5: Jury selection gets spicy from the jump
Perhaps it’s a sign of things to come that something as typically banal as jury selection is already offering glimpses of the kind of name-dropping and sensationalism that could come out of this trial. Prospective jurors were reportedly quizzed on their familiarity with a list of people (some 200 names long) who might be referenced in the course of the trial. Sinners star Michael B. Jordan was unexpectedly name-dropped, with Rolling Stone later identifying him as the unnamed actor referenced in Ventura’s lawsuit against Combs. The suit stated that she “began a flirtatious relationship with an actor” in 2015, allegedly inspiring Diddy to call and threaten the actor.
Other names that reportedly came up included Mike Myers, D’Angelo, Kanye West, Dallas Austin, Lauren London, and Destiny’s Child member Michelle Williams—but any way in which they could relate to the case specifically is still unclear for now.
May 12: The first witness takes the stand
With the jury selected and opening statements from the prosecution and defense fired off, the Combs trial officially kicked off on Monday May 12 with Witness #1: Daniel Phillip, a man who testified to being a participant in several “freakoffs.”
Phillip said that he first met Combs and Ventura over 10 years ago, around 2012 or 2013. He went to a hotel under the assumption that he would be dancing at a bachelorette party, only to find Ventura in a wig, explaining that “it was her birthday and that her husband wanted to do something special for her, and so she asked me if I would mind rubbing baby oil on her and giving her a massage.” That led to intercourse, while Combs watched them, allegedly wearing a hat and a bandana over his face.
Phillip said that in two specific instances he’d witnessed Combs being physically violent towards Ventura. In one instance, Philip said, Ventura didn’t come into the hotel room immediately, upon which Combs allegedly dragged her in by her hair. “Cassie was visibly very upset, did not look like she wanted to continue doing anything,” Phillip said. “But Mr. Combs asked, ‘Are y’all ready to continue now?’”
In another instance, Phillip described hearing what sounded like slapping from another room, only for Ventura to burst in and jump into his lap, shaking. Phillip said he feared retribution from Combs if he went to the police, noting that Combs had taken a picture of his drivers license.
May 13: Daniel Phillip is cross-examined by the defense
One of the defense team’s tactics seems to be acknowledging a high level of toxicity and abuse within Combs and Ventura’s relationship—while arguing that that doesn’t make him guilty of racketeering and trafficking. In an attempt to paint a picture of all parties involved willingly consenting to the encounters, one of Combs’ lawyers asked Phillip if Ventura ever appeared drunk or high, to which he replied that she did not. But when faced with the loaded question of “Is it fair to say she was in complete control of everything she did?,” Phillip replied: “I cannot say that.”
May 13: Cassie takes the stand
After Phillip’s cross-examination ended early in the morning, much of the day was dominated by Ventura’s testimony, which is expected to continue well into the rest of the week. It was an at times harrowing, and often increasingly uncomfortable account, focused mostly on the freakoffs and the way Ventura felt “humiliated” by Combs as the alleged scenes played out. She described intensely “choreographed” events that Combs essentially directed—sometimes literally filming them—that lasted for days on end, and soon began to occur almost weekly. At one point, she said of Combs’ demeanor during freakoffs, through tears: “His eyes go black — the version of him I was in love with was no longer there.”
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