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Sean Combs— Case Archive
2025 Federal Trialtrial-daytrial-dayMadison R. SmyserTeny R. GeragosNicole WestmorelandBryana BongolanFrank PiazzadirectcrossredirectDay 20 - June 4, 2025Video expert testimony addressed surveillance-footage limits before Bryana Bongolan testified about an alleged balcony incident; her cross-examination continued to the next morning.
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Day 20 - June 4, 2025

Video Expert Testimony and Bryana Bongolan's Balcony Account

Judge Arun Subramanian
9Proceedings
4Pages
2Witnesses
3,712Lines
5Sidebars
Day 20 of 39
Appearing:
Madison R. Smyser Teny R. Geragos Nicole Westmoreland Bryana Bongolan Frank Piazza

Video expert testimony addressed surveillance-footage limits before Bryana Bongolan testified about an alleged balcony incident; her cross-examination continued to the next morning.

Full day summary

The court resolved evidentiary issues before the jury entered, including overruling a Rule 403 objection to the government's video compilation and entering an immunity order for Bryana Bongolan. Forensic video expert Frank Piazza testified about cellphone and surveillance recordings, including playback-speed corrections, timestamp limitations, and apparent gaps in the surveillance footage; the court admitted his chronological compilation. Bongolan then testified about an alleged balcony incident involving Sean Combs and identified photographs she said showed injuries. On cross-examination, the defense questioned her about prior accounts, civil litigation, drug use, and differences in descriptions of the balcony and knife incidents. The jury was excused before cross-examination concluded, and it was set to continue the next morning.

1. Bongolan Evidentiary and Immunity Matters

Before the jury entered on Day 20, the court issued evidentiary rulings for Bryana Bongolan's testimony, entered her immunity order, and admitted stipulated device-data exhibits.

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Procedural
Trial Caption and Appearances
4 lines
Procedural
Evidentiary Rulings Before Bryana Bongolan
104 lines

The court resolved exhibit and cross-examination disputes before Bryana Bongolan's testimony and set a deadline for briefing on proposed Dr. Hughes testimony.

Procedural
Bryana Bongolan Immunity Order
27 lines

The court entered an immunity order for Bryana Bongolan before her testimony.

Procedural
Stipulated Device-Data Exhibits
22 lines

The court admitted stipulated device-data exhibits, and the government published a device report and chat for the jury.

2. Frank Piazza — Direct/Cross/Redirect

Forensic video expert Frank Piazza testified about the reliability, timing limits, and compilation of cellphone and surveillance footage, described enhanced sexually explicit videos admitted under seal, and addressed defense questions about gaps and timestamp irregularities.

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Direct
Frank Piazza — Direct Frank Piazza Madison R. Smyser
522 lines

Video expert Frank Piazza explained technical limits of hotel recordings, presented an admitted chronological compilation, and described enhanced sexually explicit videos admitted under seal.

Cross
Frank Piazza — Cross Frank Piazza Teny R. Geragos
561 lines

Defense counsel examined timestamp jumps, artifacts, and apparent recording gaps in the surveillance footage; Piazza explained the technical limitations and the cellphone-video bridge in the compilation.

Redirect
Frank Piazza — Redirect Frank Piazza Madison R. Smyser
38 lines

Piazza clarified differing timestamp offsets in the video feeds, and the court set a procedure for undisclosed impeachment exhibits.

1 sidebar inside this proceeding
  1. Impeachment Exhibit Submission ProcedureThe Court addressed defense ex parte submissions containing proposed impeachment exhibits after the government objected.

3. Bryana Bongolan — Direct (Part 1)

Bryana Bongolan testified about alleged violence, threats, and drug use involving Sean Combs, including her account of being lifted onto Ventura's 17th-floor balcony railing and thrown onto furniture. She identified injury photographs, acknowledged inaccuracies in earlier civil filings, and the court barred proposed settlement-call testimony after sustaining a hearsay objection.

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Direct
Bryana Bongolan — Direct Bryana Bongolan Madison R. Smyser
1144 lines

Bryana Bongolan described the alleged balcony incident, identified injury photographs, and addressed discrepancies in later civil-litigation materials; the court excluded proposed settlement-call testimony after a hearsay dispute.

2 sidebars inside this proceeding
  1. Hearsay Foundation for Holladay CallThe parties disputed whether a call involving Rob Holladay had a sufficient foundation for admission as an agent or co-conspirator statement, or for its effect on the listener.
  2. Foundation for Settlement StatementCounsel disputed whether testimony about a call made on behalf of Mr. Combs could establish the foundation for a party-authorized settlement statement.

4. Bryana Bongolan — Cross (Part 2)

Defense cross-examination of Bryana Bongolan addressed her prior statements, civil litigation, and relationship with Cassie before the jury was excused for the day.

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Cross
Bryana Bongolan — Cross Bryana Bongolan Nicole Westmoreland
1290 lines

Defense counsel challenged Bongolan's recollection and prior accounts of the balcony incident through government-interview materials and civil filings; the court repeatedly required clearer questioning before continuing the cross the next day.

2 sidebars inside this proceeding
  1. Question Wording and Witness AudibilityAt sidebar, counsel disputed whether certain question wording suggested sexual innuendo and discussed clearer phrasing for the witness.
  2. Cross-Examination Questioning LimitsThe sidebar addressed the anticipated length of cross-examination and objections to question form, including how to refresh the witness's recollection.
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