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2025 Federal Trialtrial-daytrial-dayMeredith FosterMary C. SlavikMitzi SteinerMarc A. AgnifiloNicole WestmorelandDavid JamesKerry MorganDawn RicharddirectcrosssidebarredirectrecrossDay 10 - May 19, 2025The court set testimony limits as Dawn Richard completed her testimony, Kerry Morgan testified, and David James began.
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Day 10 - May 19, 2025

Evidentiary Rulings, Richard and Morgan Testimony, and James's Direct

Judge Arun Subramanian
13Proceedings
8Pages
3Witnesses
3,838Lines
5Sidebars
Day 10 of 39
Appearing:

The court set testimony limits as Dawn Richard completed her testimony, Kerry Morgan testified, and David James began.

Full day summary

Before the jury entered, the court issued and clarified limits on proposed testimony from Dawn Richard, Kerry Morgan, and David James, admitting some material while excluding other statements on hearsay and Rule 403 grounds. Richard then completed direct, cross-examination, redirect, and recross. She described alleged violence against Casandra Ventura, warnings she understood as threats, drug deliveries, and firearms; on cross and recross, defense counsel questioned her about prior interviews, later contact with Sean Combs, and her civil lawsuit. Morgan testified about alleged violence involving Ventura, an alleged 2018 assault against Morgan, and a later $30,000 payment after she considered a lawsuit. Her cross-examination addressed police contact, the proposed NDA, and the absence or location of medical records and photographs; the court admitted defense exhibits after rulings. James began his testimony about his work as Combs's personal assistant, staff instructions to stay within assigned duties, and conversations involving Ventura.

1. Pretrial Evidentiary Rulings

Before the jury returned on Day 10, the court clarified evidentiary rulings for proposed testimony from Dawn Richard, Kerry Morgan, and David James.

Procedural
Pretrial Evidentiary Rulings
114 lines

The court made evidentiary rulings on proposed testimony from Dawn Richard, Kerry Morgan, and David James, excluding several statements while permitting others subject to foundation.

2. Dawn Richard — Direct/Cross (Part 2)

Dawn Richard described alleged violence, threats, security personnel, drug deliveries, firearms, and Cassie's reported injuries before the defense questioned her prior accounts and pending civil lawsuit.

Direct
Dawn Richard — Direct Dawn Richard Mitzi Steiner
464 lines

Dawn Richard described alleged violence against Cassie, threats to employees, drug deliveries, and firearms during her direct examination.

Cross
Dawn Richard — Cross Dawn Richard Nicole Westmoreland
762 lines

Defense cross-examined Dawn Richard on prior interview accounts, her civil lawsuit, and later contact with Sean Combs, while the court required further foundation before a text-message exhibit could be used for impeachment.

1 sidebar inside this proceeding
  1. Foundation for Impeachment DocumentThe sidebar addressed whether a document could be introduced for impeachment when the prerequisites had not yet been satisfied.

3. Redirect-Scope Sidebar

The court allowed limited redirect of Dawn Richard about her lawsuit and post-employment communications with Sean Combs, while excluding broader forced-labor allegations.

sidebar
Redirect Scope on Lawsuit Reasons
34 lines

The sidebar addressed the permissible scope of redirect after cross-examination challenged the witness's credibility and motives for communicating with and suing the defendant.

4. Dawn Richard — Cross/Redirect/Recross (Part 3)

Dawn Richard reaffirmed her account on redirect before recross addressed her lawsuit and efforts to work again with Sean Combs; the court then admitted two government exhibits without objection.

Cross
Dawn Richard — Cross Resumed Dawn Richard Nicole Westmoreland
1 lines
Redirect
Dawn Richard — Redirect Dawn Richard Mitzi Steiner
199 lines

Dawn Richard addressed memory and prior-account challenges, reaffirmed allegations of violence against Cassie and threats to keep quiet, and faced several sustained objections.

sidebar
Questioning About Civil Demand
19 lines

At sidebar, counsel discussed whether the witness could be questioned about her awareness of money sought in a civil lawsuit, including a proposed $22 million demand.

Recross
Dawn Richard — Recross Dawn Richard Nicole Westmoreland
83 lines

Dawn Richard confirmed prior contact about restarting Dirty Money and said her civil lawsuit sought to make her whole, including payment for work with Sean Combs.

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