Witnesses Testify Against Sean Diddy Combs in High-Profile Sex Trafficking Case
ICARO Media Group
###
The trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs continued in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday with gripping testimonies from two witnesses – a forensic video expert and a woman who claims Combs once dangled her off a balcony. These testimonies are crucial in the high-profile sex trafficking case that has gripped the nation.
Federal prosecutors accuse Combs of abusing, threatening, and coercing women into marathon sexual encounters known as "freak offs". They claim that he used his business empire, along with threats of violence and arson, to conceal his alleged crimes. The 55-year-old hip-hop mogul is facing five criminal counts, including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. Combs has pleaded not guilty, and if convicted, he could face life in prison.
One of the witnesses, Bryana Bongolan, a friend of Combs's ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, was granted immunity to testify. Bongolan recounted a harrowing incident in 2016 where Combs allegedly held her over a 17th-story balcony at Ventura's apartment before slamming her into the balcony furniture. According to her testimony, Combs approached her from behind, lifted her by the armpits, and held her over the railing while repeatedly shouting, "Do you know what the f*** you did?" She said her feet dangled for 10 to 15 seconds before he threw her onto the furniture, leaving her with bruises, neck pain, and "night terrors."
Photos of Bongolan's injuries were shown in court, and she admitted that fear of Combs prevented her from reporting the incident to the police at the time. During cross-examination, the defense tried to undermine Bongolan's memory, pointing out inconsistencies in her account of the altercation. Moreover, Bongolan has included this allegation in a $10 million civil lawsuit she filed against Combs in November.
Bongolan's testimony also shed light on the violence she witnessed in Ventura's relationship with Combs. She recounted instances where she saw Ventura with black eyes and witnessed Combs throw a knife at Ventura. This statement aligns with Ventura's own lawsuit against Combs, in which she detailed similar violent encounters. Both women admitted to a history of drug use, primarily marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine, and ketamine, a fact the defense highlighted during cross-examination.
The forensic video expert, Frank Piazza, testified about surveillance footage showing Combs assaulting Ventura inside the InterContinental hotel in Los Angeles on March 5, 2016. Piazza confirmed that the video, which showed Combs kicking and dragging Ventura, had not been manually altered. This video is a critical piece of evidence for the prosecution, aimed at illustrating the control and violence Combs allegedly exerted over Ventura.
Additionally, the prosecution presented a series of "sex videos" involving Ventura, which were recovered from a laptop she turned over to the government. Piazza testified that he enhanced the footage of most videos and the audio on one. These videos were from a user profile labeled "Frank Black," an alias used by Combs. Although the videos were filed under seal, making them viewable only by the jury, they are expected to play a significant role in the government's case.
As the trial progresses, the testimonies and evidence continue to build a grim picture of the allegations against Diddy, keeping the public and media captivated by every unfolding detail.