Sean Combs’ legal team moved for a mistrial Wednesday, accusing the prosecution of misconduct over the implication that Combs may have destroyed fingerprint evidence. The judge denied the motion.
Among several witnesses testifying was Deonte Nash, a former stylist for both Cassie Ventura and Combs. Nash told jurors he witnessed Combs threaten Ventura with releasing sex tapes of her to the internet. Nash testified Combs threatened to first release the tapes to her parents’ workplaces to get them fired.
Court adjourns for the day; Deonte Nash will resume testimony
The government will have to make new travel arrangements for Nash, who was set to fly out of New York City tonight but will have to return to the witness stand tomorrow morning.
He ended for the day being asked about times where it seemed Combs' security team assisted Nash and Ventura, even when it conflicted with Combs.
Mia, a pseudonym for Victim 4, is expected to take the stand tomorrow and continue until court ends Friday afternoon.
Witness says he last spoke with Cassie after she had her baby
Nash may have revealed some news to the courtroom during his cross-examination, telling the jury he last spoke to Cassie Ventura after she gave birth yesterday.
The stylist was asked about when he spoke to Ventura, who was described as Nash's good friend, by defense attorney Xavier Donaldson. Nash responded that it was after she had her baby.
Nash was instructed not to speak to Ventura about any testimony, as they were both taking the witness stand. He told the court that their conversations were generally about how she was doing and about what clothing to wear when appearing in court.
Witness recalls time Ventura fled Combs in fear
Earlier in the day, Nash recalled a tense moment in either 2013 or 2014 when Ventura was fleeing from Combs following a bad argument.
The witness recalled Ventura going up to her hotel room balcony in hopes of evading an enraged Combs, who had sent Nash to find her. The stylist said he feared she was about to harm herself.
“She was going to go over the balcony,” Nash recounted.
Cassie gives birth less than two weeks after leaving witness stand
Cassie Ventura gave birth yesterday, roughly two weeks after she took the stand as a witness in Sean Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to NBC News.
The baby is her third with her husband, Alex Fine. Ventura announced the pregnancy in an Instagram post featuring black-and-white photos of their family, including the couple’s two young daughters.
Witness says he'd rather not give evidence against Combs
Nash told the jury he had kept in contact with Combs and doesn't have any ill will against him despite all that he witnessed.
He called the regular text messages exchanged with the defendant "loving."
"I don't hate him," Nash said in his direct examination. "It's just not me."
Then under cross-examination, Nash was asked if he was planning a lawsuit against Combs, and the witness replied: "No, I am focused on getting out of here (court)."
Cassie didn't want to go to 'freak offs,' stylist says
Cassie Ventura expressed that she didn't want to go to hotels with Combs to participate in "freak offs" but would go because Combs wanted her to, Nash testified.
He told the court that Ventura would pack sex toys and be gone for a day or more, returning tired. One example Nash gave to Ventura's not wanting to go to a "freak off" was after a birthday celebration that Combs insisted on throwing for her.
Ventura didn't want to leave, but said that Combs was mad at her for not going to a hotel for a "freak off," Nash said. Ventura previously testified that she eventually left her party with Combs and gave in to his demand instead of going to a karaoke club with her friends.
Stylist says he reported violence to Combs' chief of staff
Nash didn't report the violence he witnessed against Cassie Ventura to the police because he feared retaliation from Combs, he told the court.
But Nash testified that he did speak to Combs' chief of staff, Kristina Khorram, about the issue.
Khorram promised to speak to Combs, Nash said, but the violence did not stop.
Combs threatened to release sex tapes to get Cassie's parents fired, Deonte Nash says
Combs once threatened to release sex tapes of Cassie Ventura to her parents' workplaces and the internet, the stylist said in his testimony.
Nash told the court that he was at Ventura's apartment when Combs came over and grabbed Ventura by the hair, ordering Nash to get out. He testified that Ventura eventually got in his car and they left, but that Combs called, ordering them to pull over.
Combs then came to the window, angry with Ventura over something, and told her that he would release sex tapes of her to the internet, according to Nash. The music mogul said he would first release them to her parents' workplaces to get them fired, Nash told the court.
Ventura cried as they drove away, Nash said, and the stylist tried to reassure her by telling her that Combs was on the tapes as well. Nash said that's when Ventura told him that Combs wouldn't be on the tapes because he was filming her with other men.
Deonte Nash describes jumping on Combs' back after mogul started attacking Cassie
Nash was in Cassie Ventura's apartment helping her prepare for a music festival when Combs allegedly arrived and assaulted the singer, Nash testified.
Ventura mentioned the attack in her testimony two weeks ago. Nash told the court that Combs was enraged as he grabbed Ventura by the hair and began to kick and hit her.
Nash said he and Mia, also known as Victim-4, each tried to jump on Combs' back but were thrown off. Combs continued to hit Cassie until her head hit the edge of her bed frame and began bleeding, Nash testified.
Prosecutors showed photos of Cassie's bloodied eyebrow when she testified regarding this incident.
Combs threatened Ventura's career, witness testifies
Combs was not shy about threatening Ventura's career if she didn't behave exactly as the music mogul wanted, Nash testified.
The witness recalled Combs telling Ventura that if he heard from her "smart-ass mouth," then "her little mixtape won’t come out."
