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Sean Combs— Case Archive
2025 Federal Trialtrial-daytrial-dayEmily A. JohnsonCasandra VenturadirectDay 7 - May 14, 2025Casandra Ventura continued direct testimony about alleged assaults, threats, freak-offs, treatment, and her civil settlement as the court addressed exhibit disclosure and Rule 412 issues.
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Day 7 - May 14, 2025

Ventura Continues Direct Testimony; Court Addresses Exhibit And Rule 412 Issues

Judge Arun Subramanian
8Proceedings
5Pages
1Witnesses
3,030Lines
4Sidebars
Day 7 of 39
Appearing:
Emily A. Johnson Casandra Ventura

Casandra Ventura continued direct testimony about alleged assaults, threats, freak-offs, treatment, and her civil settlement as the court addressed exhibit disclosure and Rule 412 issues.

Full day summary

Casandra Ventura continued direct testimony, describing surveillance footage and alleged injuries from the InterContinental, freak-offs involving escorts, alleged threats to release recorded sexual material, and several alleged assaults during her relationship with Sean Combs. She also testified about an alleged 2018 rape, her 2023 trauma treatment, and the $20 million settlement of her November 2023 civil lawsuit. The court admitted sealed video stills and other exhibits, directed clearer timeframes for questions about alleged abuse, and resolved portions of a Rule 106 dispute. Before cross-examination, the court set exhibit-disclosure requirements for the day and directed the parties to identify text-message exhibits that might require a sealed Rule 412 hearing.

1. Witness Consultation and Defense Exhibits

Before the jury entered, the court addressed witness accommodations and required advance disclosure of marked defense exhibits intended for Ms. Ventura's cross-examination.

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Procedural
Trial Resumption and Preliminary Matters
5 lines
Procedural
Witness Consultation Proceedings
41 lines

The court directed the parties to propose a narrow instruction on witness consultations with counsel and deferred exhibit-completeness discussions until lunch.

Procedural
Defense Exhibit Disclosure Dispute
92 lines

The court required the defense to disclose relevant marked exhibits before cross-examination of Ms. Ventura, while reserving the broader Rule 16 dispute for later.

2. Casandra Ventura — Direct (Part 3)

Casandra Ventura continued direct examination, identifying hotel surveillance footage and describing alleged injuries, communications with Sean Combs, and her account of escorts, recorded sexual material, drug use, and violence during freak-offs.

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Direct
Casandra Ventura — Direct Casandra Ventura Emily A. Johnson
1548 lines

Ventura testified about the InterContinental incident, escort arrangements, alleged threats involving recorded sexual material, alleged violence, and related exhibits.

1 sidebar inside this proceeding
  1. Sealed Exhibit Display SafeguardsThe parties discussed safeguards for showing six sealed still images only to the well, Court, and jury without transmission to the gallery or overflow rooms.

3. Casandra Ventura — Direct (Part 4)

Casandra Ventura resumed direct testimony about sealed video stills, alleged assaults, injuries, and alleged threats involving recorded sexual material.

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Direct
Casandra Ventura — Direct (Resumed) Casandra Ventura Emily A. Johnson
818 lines

Ventura testified about alleged assaults, injuries, staff and security involvement, threats involving recorded sexual material, and exhibits including photographs, messages, and sealed video stills.

2 sidebars inside this proceeding
  1. Clarifying Abuse-Testimony QuestionsCounsel objected that generalized questions about physical abuse over an 11-year relationship were vague, cumulative, and difficult to address without identifying particular events.
  2. Bona Conversation EvidenceThe parties discussed proposed testimony about a post-complaint conversation that prompted a correction to the recalled date of the balcony incident.

4. Casandra Ventura — Direct (Part 5)

Casandra Ventura resumed direct testimony about drug use, a 2018 incident she characterized as rape, later treatment, and her civil lawsuit and $20 million settlement.

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Direct
Casandra Ventura — Direct (Resumed) Casandra Ventura Emily A. Johnson
398 lines

Ventura described alleged 2018 rape, drug dependency, texts, treatment, and a $20 million civil settlement; the court addressed Rule 412 issues before cross.

1 sidebar inside this proceeding
  1. Rule 412 and Cross TimingThe parties discussed potential Rule 412 objections to questions about the witness's relationships and whether cross-examination should continue that day.
Procedural
Witness and Jury Adjournment Logistics
20 lines

5. Rule 412 Cross-Examination Hearing

Before the jury entered, the parties disputed whether text messages about alleged infidelity could be used in cross-examination under Rule 412.

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Procedural
Rule 412 Cross-Examination Hearing
108 lines

The court set an expedited process to review disputed cross-examination exhibits and determine whether any Rule 412 sealed hearing was needed.

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