Kerry Morgan testified in the Sean “Diddy” Combs sex trafficking trial today following dramatic testimony last week from his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.
Morgan was Ventura’s best friend from 2001 to 2018. Morgan said she was assaulted by Combs in 2018. Afterward, Morgan said Ventura wasn’t supportive and ended her friendship with the singer.
“He came up behind me and choked me and left finger marks on my neck and hit me in the head with a wooden hanger," Morgan testified. "Cassie was in the bathroom, it hit me behind my right ear."
Morgan previously testified she witnessed Combs assaulting Ventura multiple times, adding that the music mogul controlled his then-girlfriend’s livelihood. Earlier today, singer Dawn Richard similarly told the jury that Combs once said he “owned” Ventura, and that she could “see” that Ventura was afraid of him.
The day ended with a few minutes of testimony from Combs’s former assistant, David James. He will return to the witness stand on Tuesday morning.
Combs is facing sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy charges. The hip-hop mogul was arrested in September 2024 as federal authorities alleged he threatened, abused, and coerced victims “to fulfill his sexual desires” between 2004 and 2024. Combs has denied any accusations of wrongdoing.
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Key Points
- Day six recap: Dawn Richard and Kerry Morgan testify that Diddy abused Cassie Ventura
- Cassie's ex-friend Kerry Morgan says she was 'assaulted by Combs 'assaulted' in 2018
- Diddy said he 'owned' Cassie Ventura, Dawn Richard testifies
- Key moments from week one of the trial
Recap: Dawn Richard and Kerry Morgan testify that Diddy abused Cassie Ventura
20:48
,
Katie Hawkinson
The day began with more testimony from Dawn Richard, a singer who worked with Sean “Diddy” Combs and sued him for abuse last year.
Richard testified that she saw Combs attack his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura with a skillet. Afterward, Richard said Combs told her not to say anything about the incident, telling her, “where he comes from, people go missing.”
But the defense tried to poke holes in Richard’s testimony, claiming her story on the skillet incident had changed and that she failed to tell prosecutors last year that Combs threatened her.
In response, Richard said she’s remembering the details “to the best of her ability.”
Meanwhile, Kerry Morgan testified that she saw Combs assault Ventura on multiple occasions. Morgan also testified that Combs assaulted her with a hanger in 2018. Ventura wasn’t supportive in the wake of the assault, Morgan said, which led to the end of their 17-year friendship.
The day ended with a few minutes of testimony from David James, Combs’s assistant from 2007 to 2009. James described 20-hour work days and became emotional when recalling a staff member once told him, “This is Mr. Combs’s kingdom, we’re all here to serve in it.”
Live coverage of Combs’s New York trial will resume tomorrow morning.
Key moments from week one of the trial
10:56
,
Rachel Clun
Sex workers from Craigslist, baby oil, “freak offs” and explosive testimony from Cassie Ventura were key features of the first week of the sex trafficking trial against Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Here is what you need to know about what the jury has heard so far:
Ventura releases powerful statement after testifying
10:59
,
Rachel Clun
After four days on the witness stand the R&B singer released a statement, read by her lawyer outside the courthouse in New York.
“This week has been extremely challenging, but also remarkably empowering and healing for me. I hope that my testimony has given strength and a voice to other survivors, and can help others who have suffered to speak up and also heal from the abuse and fear,” it read.
“For me, the more I heal, the more I can remember. And the more I can remember, the more I will never forget. I want to thank my family and my advocates for their unwavering support, and I’m grateful for all the kindness and encouragement that I have received.”
Trial to resume with more witness testimony
11:04
,
Rachel Clun, Reuters
The trial is set to resume today in New York with more testimony from prosecution witnesses.
Pop singer Dawn Richard is expected to return to the witness stand to continue testifying against Sean “Diddy” Combs.
On Friday, she told the jury that she often saw Combs beat his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
Richard recounted an incident at Combs’s Los Angeles home in 2009 when Combs beat Ventura and dragged her upstairs by the hair. Richard then said she heard breaking glass and screaming.
Ventura spent four days last week testifying that Combs physically and emotionally abused her throughout their 11-year relationship.
'I worried for my safety': four days of explosive evidence from Cassie Ventura
11:28
,
Rachel Clun
Cassie Ventura was the star prosecution witness testifying against her ex Sean “Diddy” Combs in the first week of the trial.
Ventura told the jury she had initially consented to the drug-fuelled sex marathons called “freak-offs” to please Combs, but grew sickened by them.
Detailing how Diddy hit her during multiple “freak-offs,” she broke down on the stand Friday, grabbing tissues to pat down her tear-stained cheeks. The prolonged abuse made her feel "worthless, just like dirt... like I was nothing,” she testified.
Ventura said she often took drugs, including ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine, and GHB, before and during the sometimes days-long freak-offs to stay awake and “feel numb.”
She also testified that after a closure conversation following her 2018 breakup with Diddy, the disgraced mogul raped her on her living room floor.
Viral video falsely claims Prince left an audio recording about Diddy
11:43
,
Rachel Clun
A video has gone viral claiming Prince made a recording “warning” about Sean “Diddy” Combs, reportedly affecting the trial.
Except no such recording has surfaced, and the video caption itself says the content is fictional.
“No official sources confirm the existence of such a recording”.
Coombs trial draws intense interest
11:59
,
Rachel Clun, Reuters
The trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs in Manhattan federal court has drawn intense media coverage because of Combs' wealth and towering influence in the music industry.
Combs, previously known as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, founded Bad Boy Records, and is credited with helping turn artists like Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, Notorious B.I.G. and Usher into stars in the 1990s and 2000s.
But now the 55-year-old is facing a jury trial, charged with sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy charges.
The hip-hop mogul was arrested in September 2024 as federal authorities alleged he threatened, abused, and coerced victims “to fulfil his sexual desires” between 2004 and 2024. Combs has denied any accusations of wrongdoing.
Part of the criminal case stems from his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura’s November 2023 civil suit against Combs. She spent four days testifying, and said he agreed to settle the civil case after 24 hours for $20 million.
The trial, which began last week, could last for up to two months.
Cassie Ventura's husband releases statement in tribute to his wife for 'bravery'
12:15
,
Rachel Clun
Alex Fine, Cassie Ventura’s husband, released a statement in support of his wife after her four gruelling days of testimony at the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Fine said he “felt so many things sitting there” listening to Ventura, 38, testify about “freak offs” and years of abuse.
“I have felt tremendous pride and overwhelming love for Cass. I have felt profound anger that she has been subjected to sitting in front of a person who tried to break her. You did not break her spirit nor her smile,” he said in his statement.
Fine said he did not save Ventura, but rather she saved herself.
“She alone broke free from abuse, coercion, violence and threats. She did the work of fighting the demons that only a demon himself could have done to her. All I have done is love her as she has loved me," he added.
Fine and Ventura began dating at the end of her on-again, off-again 11-year relationship with Combs. Fine and Ventura married in 2019 and are expecting their third child together.
The celebrities mentioned during Diddy’s sex trafficking trial
12:32
,
Rachel Clun
Michael B. Jordan, Mike Myers, Britney Spears and Kanye West are some of the celebrities' names that were brought up in the first week of the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial.
Read about the celebrities mentioned in the trial so far below:
Aubrey O’Day blasts ‘selfish’ Diddy for having children in court during graphic testimonies
12:48
,
Rachel Clun
Danity Kane singer Aubrey O’Day has called Sean “Diddy” Combs “selfish” for having his children appear in court during his ongoing trial in New York.
Six of Diddy’s seven children — Quincy, 33, Justin, 31, Christian, 27, Chance, 18 and twins D’Lila and Jessie, also 18 — have appeared in court to support their father.
O’Day, whose girl band was signed to Diddy’s Bad Boy Records, told Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes’s podcast Friday that she did not know any father who would want his children to sit through the kind of testimony heard in week one of the trial.
Read more of her comments below:
Short queue to watch Diddy trial
13:05
,
Kelly Rissman
Kelly Rissman is covering the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial in New York:
It’s a beautiful day in Manhattan, but the line to watch the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs is tiny today, so it seems like the sensation is finally dying down.
All the line holders appear to be gone and there are no signs that anyone camped out overnight.
Former Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard resumes her testimony shortly, at 8:30am.
First witness expected today: Dawn Richard
13:22
,
Rachel Clun, Reuters
Shortly the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs is expected to hear from former Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard, who began testifying at the sex trafficking trial on Friday.
She told the jury last week that she saw the hip-hop mogul physically and emotionally abuse his then-girlfriend for years.
Richard described a moment at Combs’ Los Angeles home in 2009 when she said the hip-hop mogul beat his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and dragged her upstairs by the hair. Richard then said she heard breaking glass and screaming.
Richard testified that Combs called her and others who witnessed the alleged assault into the studio the next day, gave them flowers and said their careers would be harmed if they reported the incident.
Last year, Richard filed a civil suit against Combs accusing him of physical abuse, groping, and psychological abuse during the years they worked together. His representative denied the claims at the time.
Watch: celebrities mentioned during week one of Diddy's trial
13:39
,
Rachel Clun
ICYMI: Justin Bieber breaks silence on speculation he was a Diddy victim
13:55
,
Rachel Clun
The hip-hop mogul and then-teen star made joint TV appearances 15 years ago that resurfaced online as Diddy headed to trial.
Who is expected to testify this week?
14:17
,
Katie Hawkinson
Former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard is set to continue her testimony today.
Richard previously told the jury she saw Sean “Diddy” Combs beating his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in 2009.
Ventura’s former, long-time friend Kerry Morgan is also expected to take the stand today, CNN reports.
Later this week, Ventura’s mother is also expected to testify.
Dawn Richard enters the courtroom
14:32
,
Katie Hawkinson
Dawn Richard and the jury have entered the courtroom.
Richard is set to continue testifying that she saw Sean “Diddy” Combs abuse his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.
Ventura testified for four days last week, describing years of alleged physical and sexual abuse by Combs.
Diddy was 'frequently' violent toward Cassie, witness testifies
14:41
,
Katie Hawkinson
Witness Dawn Richard told the jury she “frequently” saw Sean “Diddy” Combs be violent toward his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.
“He would punch her, choke her, drag her, slap her in the mouth,” Richard testified. “I saw him kick her, punch her in the stomach.”
“It could be Cass speaking up for herself. It could be random. We didn’t even know where it came from,” Richard added.
Richard also recalled a 2009 incident, saying she witnessed Combs hit Ventura with a skillet. Combs then allegedly threatened both Richard and Ventura.
"He said you could go missing, that we could die," Richard testified. "I was shocked but also scared.”
Dawn Richard testifies about Cassie Ventura's injuries
14:58
,
Katie Hawkinson
Dawn Richard testified that Cassie Ventura often had injuries on her face, arms and legs after Sean “Diddy” Combs was violent toward her.
Ventura often wore sunglasses and makeup to hide the injuries, she said.
Richard added that two female members of the musical group Diddy Dirty Money wore sunglasses in solidarity with Ventura while in Central Park.
Dawn Richard testifies Diddy told her to stay out of his relationship with Cassie
15:09
,
Katie Hawkinson
Sean “Diddy” Combs allegedly told Dawn Richard to stay out of his relationship with Cassie Ventura.
Combs told Richard she was “here to work” and if she didn’t stop, she would “pay for it,” she testified.
“I made a decision that it would be best for the safety of myself to not interfere, because I don’t think that she was really ready to do anything,” Richard told the jury.
Diddy carried a gun and took drugs, Dawn Richard testifies
15:15
Dawn Richard said she “often” witnessed Sean “Diddy” Combs taking drugs, including ketamine, cocaine and marijuana.
Richard also saw Combs carrying a handgun, she told the jury. She said Combs’s bodyguards had guns too, keeping them on “their lower back.”
Defense cross-examines Dawn Richard
15:21
,
Katie Hawkinson
Sean “Diddy” Combs’s defense team has started their cross-examination of Dawn Richard.
Dawn Richard discusses Diddy lawsuit, reveals Cassie inspired her to 'take a stand'
15:27
,
Katie Hawkinson
Before cross-examination began, Dawn Richard testified about her 2024 lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Richard told the jury Cassie Ventura’s 2023 lawsuit against him gave her the courage to “finally take a stand and tell the truth.”
The judge then sustained the defense’s objection to this statement.
The lawsuit is still pending. The defense later asked Richard if she knew of any pending motions to dismiss the lawsuit. Richard said she did not.
Defense questions Dawn Richard's claim that Diddy attacked Cassie with a skillet
15:34
,
Katie Hawkinson
The defense team is questioning Dawn Richard’s previous accounts of a time Sean “Diddy” Combs allegedly attacked Cassie Ventura with a skillet.
Last week, Richard said Combs tried to hit Ventura with the skillet, but that she ducked and landed in the fetal position.
In a 2024 document related to her lawsuit, Richard said she "heard a pan hit the wall" but didn’t witness Combs throwing it.
Then, in a separate 2024 interview with investigators, Richard said Combs threw eggs — but not the skillet — at Ventura.
Richard told Combs’s attorneys that she testified about the incident to the best of her ability.
Defense questions Dawn Richard's claim that Diddy threatened her
15:51
,
Katie Hawkinson
Defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland is questioning Dawn Richard’s claims that Sean “Diddy” Combs threatened her, saying that “people go missing.”
Richard said Combs brought her and fellow artist Kaleena Harper into his studio after the alleged 2009 skillet incident. Combs locked the door and told them not to say anything about the incident, warning that “where he comes from, people go missing,” Richard testified.
But Westmoreland pointed to Richard’s 2024 interviews with prosecutors, in which she didn’t bring up Combs’s alleged threat.
"You didn't tell prosecutors that Sean Combs said, 'people go missing,'" Westmoreland said.
"I didn't remember it," Richard responded, adding that she remembers "everything I am telling you now."
Diddy said he 'owned' Cassie Ventura, Dawn Richard testifies
16:07
,
Katie Hawkinson
Dawn Richard testified that Sean “Diddy” Combs once told her he “owned” his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
Richard says Combs told her to “stay the f*** out” of his relationship with Ventura or “something bad will happen to you.”
Richard said she could “see” that Ventura feared Combs.
"It was always wait, wait, wait for her," Richard testified, according to CBS News. "I told her she should leave...Cas looked torn...like, she would listen, but I could see the fear."
Cross-examination ends
16:17
,
Katie Hawkinson
The defense has ended their cross-examination of Cassie Ventura.
Prosecution seeks to clarify Dawn Richard's statements on the skillet incident
16:30
,
Katie Hawkinson
Prosecutor Mitzi Steiner is now doing a redirect examination, meaning she has another opportunity to question Dawn Richard after the defense ended their cross-examination.
Steiner had Richard confirm that her first meeting with prosecutors came more than 10 years after the alleged 2009 skillet incident.
This comes after the defense tried to poke holes in Richard’s testimony, noting she didn’t tell prosecutors last year that Combs threatened her after the incident, despite testifying this week that he did.
Richard said she tried to forget the alleged instances of abuse, but that she’s now remembering more and more.
“The environment was volatile and it was very hard to work in, so I tried to erase those things,” Richard testified, according to CNN.
“Every day it gets easier to remember certain things. I try my best to do it to the best of my ability,” she said.
Dawn Richard said she tried to 'erase' memories of Combs
16:42
,
Katie Hawkinson
Dawn Richard told prosecutors she tried to “erase” her memories of working with Sean “Diddy” Combs.
"No, it was a hard time, a bad time for me," Richard said, according to NBC News.
“The environment was traumatizing, so I tried to erase those things from my memory,” she added.
Dawn Richard ends her testimony
16:45
,
Katie Hawkinson
Dawn Richard has ended her testimony after a brief re-direct examination and a re-cross examination.
The court is on a short break, after which the prosecution will call their next witness.
Courtroom sketch: Dawn Richard testifies
16:50
,
Katie Hawkinson
Cassie's ex-friend takes the stand
16:58
,
Katie Hawkinson
Kerry Morgan, Cassie Ventura’s ex-best friend, has taken the stand.
Morgan was friends with Ventura from 2001 to 2018. Morgan told the court that Combs assaulted her in 2018, which led her to stop talking to Ventura.
“Her boyfriend assaulted me,” Morgan said, later clarifying she meant Combs.
Morgan added that she didn’t want to be testifying today: “I have moved on with my life away from all these people and the problems.”
Cassie's ex-friend says she witnessed Combs's physical abuse twice
17:13
Cassie Ventura’s former close friend Kerry Morgan told jurors she witnessed Sean “Diddy” Combs hitting his ex-girlfriend twice.
Morgan said she witnessed Combs hit and kick Ventura, as well as pull her hair. He was sober during both incidents, she added.
One of the alleged incidents took place at his Los Angeles home.
“I saw him push her, I’m pretty sure he hit her,” Morgan testified, according to CNN. “They were on the other side of a bed, so I’m not sure if he kicked her or something.”
The other incident took place in Jamaica, she said.
Morgan added that Combs was sometimes generous, but also "could be very aggressive” and had strong mood swings.
Combs would sometimes call Ventura “50 times in a row” when she wasn’t answering, Morgan added. Last week, Ventura testified that Combs and his staff would incessantly call her when she wasn’t responding to him.
Kerry Morgan recalls alleged assault in Jamaica
17:32
,
Katie Hawkinson
Kerry Morgan testified that Sean “Diddy” Combs assaulted his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in Jamaica in 2013.
Morgan and Ventura were on vacation together, and Combs arrived halfway through, she testified.
"Cassie had gone to the bathroom and after a few minutes Sean said she was taking too long, and he left me and then I heard her screaming," Morgan told the jury, according to NBC News.
"It was guttural, terrifying. I heard her screaming so I went to the long hallway, they were coming out of the master bedroom and he was dragging her by her hair,” she continued.
Combs dragged Ventura outside and threw her to the ground, causing her to hit her head on a brick, Morgan testified.
“I thought she was knocked out,” she added.
Kerry Morgan recounts alleged assault by Combs
17:42
,
Katie Hawkinson
Kerry Morgan testified that Sean “Diddy” Combs assaulted her with a wooden hanger in 2018.
Morgan said she was at Cassie Ventura’s apartment when Combs came in and attacked.
"He came up behind me and choked me and left finger marks on my neck and hit me in the head with a wooden hanger," Morgan said. "Cassie was in the bathroom, it hit me behind me right ear."
"We haven't spoken since," Morgan said. "The last time I spoke to Sean was the night of the assault and the last time I saw Cassie was when I signed the NDA."
Morgan said Combs paid her $30,000 after she signed a non-disclosure agreement.
Ventura said she went to urgent care for a concussion after experiencing dizziness and vomiting.
Court on lunch break
17:42
,
Katie Hawkinson
Court is on a short break for lunch.
Kerry Morgan is expected to continue testifying afterward.
Kerry Morgan says Diddy controlled Cassie's livelihood
18:43
,
Katie Hawkinson
Kerry Morgan testified that Sean “Diddy” Combs controlled the livelihood of his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.
"I wanted her to do what she wanted to do, but I told her she should leave him," Morgan testified, according to NBC News. "And she said she could not, because of her job, her car, her apartment."
Morgan said she and Ventura spoke often about whether she should stay with Combs.
Kerry Morgan describes jealousy between Cassie and Diddy
19:06
,
Katie Hawkinson
Kerry Morgan told the jury her former best friend, Cassie Ventura, was jealous of Sean “Diddy” Combs’s relationship with Kim Porter.
“Yes, she was jealous because she could never go to New Year's Eve parties,” Morgan testified.
Combs and Porter have two twin daughters who were born in 2006. Porter died in 2018 from pneumonia.
But Combs was also jealous of Ventura’s time with actor Michael B. Jordan, Morgan testified.
"What I remember was that she was speaking to Michael B. Jordan and they hung out together," Morgan said. "And he was jealous of it."
Last week, Ventura testified that Combs was jealous of her relationships with other men, including rapper Kid Cudi.
Courtroom sketch: Kerry Morgan testifies
19:26
,
Katie Hawkinson
From the courtroom: Dawn Richard and Kerry Morgan testify
19:33
,
Kelly Rissman
Dawn Richard spent this morning testifying about times she witnessed Sean “Diddy” Combs allegedly assaulting Cassie Ventura.
The defense used their cross-examination to poke holes in her testimony, asking why some of the details she testified about today weren’t mentioned in prior interviews with prosecutors.
Richard apologized frequently but stood by her testimony, saying she was recalling the details “to the best of her ability.”
Meanwhile, Kerry Morgan has been answering questions directly. Morgan previously said she doesn’t want to be testifying, noting she’s only there because she received a subpoena.
Kerry Morgan says Cassie wasn't 'supportive' after Combs allegedly assaulted her
19:35
,
Katie Hawkinson
Kerry Morgan said Cassie Ventura wasn’t “supportive” after Sean “Diddy” Combs allegedly assaulted her.
"The reason I stopped speaking to her was because she was not supportive of me after that incident,” Morgan told Combs’s attorneys during cross-examination. “I draw my line at physical abuse.”
Morgan described the 2018 incident to prosecutors earlier today.
“He came up behind me and choked me and left finger marks on my neck and hit me in the head with a wooden hanger," Morgan testified. "Cassie was in the bathroom, it hit me behind my right ear."
Sean "Diddy" Combs's former assistant called to the stand
19:48
,
Katie Hawkinson
Kerry Morgan has finished testifying.
Prosecutors have now called Sean “Diddy” Combs’s former personal assistant, David James, to the stand.
David James explains interview process to be Diddy's assistant
20:01
,
Katie Hawkinson
Sean “Diddy” Combs’s former assistant, David James, told prosecutors how he got the job while testifying Wednesday.
James said he was given a test that involved organizing a schedule from a list of several appointments. James recalled telling his interviewers he would learn Combs’s favorite restaurants and other preferences.
James was Combs’s assistant from 2007 to 2009.
Diddy's former assistant becomes emotional minutes into testimony
20:04
,
Katie Hawkinson
David James, Sean “Diddy” Combs’s personal assistant, became emotional today while describing how he landed the job, the New York Post reports.
James said he was interviewed by Vashta Wilson, who worked in human resources for Combs’s Badboy Worldwide Entertainment Group.
“I remember sitting at her desk and there was a picture of Mr. Combs on the wall," James testified. "She pointed to the wall. She said, ‘This is Mr. Combs’s kingdom, we’re all here to serve in it.’”
Diddy's ex-assistant recalls working 20-hour days
20:06
,
Katie Hawkinson
Sean “Diddy” Combs’s former personal assistant testified that he worked 20-hour days, Inner City Press reports.
Security personnel worked similar hours, he testified.
Jury dismissed for the day
20:16
,
Katie Hawkinson
Court has finished for the day, and the jury has been dismissed.
Tomorrow, Sean “Diddy” Combs’s former assistant David James will continue testifying.
End of day recap: Diddy's ex-assistant takes the stand
20:22
,
Kelly Rissman
David James, ex-assistant to Sean “Diddy” Combs, began testifying today.
James started getting emotional as he testified that a member of Combs’s staff once told him: “This is his kingdom and we’re all here to serve.”
James described the 20-hour work days and how he would have to set up environments to make Diddy feel “comfortable” and have “a successful day.” That included hotel rooms with “unique” lists of supplies.
James said Diddy had five girlfriends in the two-year period that he worked for the music mogul.
We’re expecting to hear more from James tomorrow, particularly about an alleged altercation between Combs and his personal chef.
