Mary C. Slavik

Mary C. Slavik examined hotel security official Israel Florez on Day 5 about his response to the 2016 hotel incident, Casandra Ventura's effort to leave, a reported cash offer, and surveillance footage. On redirect, she addressed omissions from the incident reports and footage that Florez said showed Combs dragging Ventura toward the room. Before the testimony, Slavik argued for admission of the incident reports; the court conditionally allowed one and excluded a version containing added video commentary.

Through David James, Slavik developed evidence about Combs's staff and security structure, hotel-room logistics, drug-related tasks, and an armed return to Mel's Diner. She argued that the anticipated diner testimony concerned the alleged enterprise, and the court overruled the defense objection. Her redirect also addressed a police report James said he declined to file because he believed it would be false. Later examinations traced Combs-controlled accounts and a wire to Ventura through former CFO Derek Ferguson, while clarifying the limits of Ferguson's workplace observations. With Brendan Paul, Slavik covered drug-related tasks, staff coordination, wild king night setup and cleanup, and why cash was advanced despite assistants being available.

Slavik examined Officer Chris Ignacio about the 2011 police response near Scott Mescudi's residence and the registration of a black Escalade. Her examination of fire investigator Lance Jimenez addressed the Porsche fire, physical evidence, witness-contact efforts, and investigative choices. During the dispute over destroyed fingerprint cards, Slavik resisted the defense attack on the investigation. The court struck the fingerprint-card testimony, denied a mistrial motion, and ordered a curative instruction.

On Day 33, she opposed the defense motion for acquittal, which the court took under advisement. In closing, Slavik argued that violence, threats, drugs, and financial pressure showed coercion. After the defense closing, she objected to an argument suggesting that the government had targeted Combs and requested a curative instruction; the court found the subject improper for jury deliberations and ordered an immediate instruction.