MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, I would like to show you a few images now.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. First, Ms. Gavin, can you please pull up for Ms. Ventura only Government Exhibit 2A-404, and for the court and defense counsel, that should be the first document in the binder.
MS. JOHNSON: Do you see that exhibit, Ms. Ventura?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: Without saying the name of the individual depicted in Government Exhibit 2A-404, do you recognize that individual?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: How do you know that individual?
CASANDRA VENTURA: She's been a friend of mine for a long time and also worked for Sean for some years.
MS. JOHNSON: Is that a fair and accurate photo of the individual depicted in Government Exhibit 2A-404?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yeah.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. At this time, the government offers 2A-404 under seal.
THE COURT: Any objection?
MS. ESTEVAO: No objection.
THE COURT: It will be admitted.
(Government Exhibit 2A-404 received in evidence)
BY MS. JOHNSON:
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, you've already been referring to the individual depicted in Government Exhibit 2A-404 as Mia. But going forward, I would ask that you continue to refer to her as Mia.
MS. JOHNSON: Thank you.
MS. JOHNSON: Just one moment. Ms. Gavin, can you please publish that exhibit to the jury? Ms. Gavin, can you take that down and pull up what's in evidence as Government Exhibit BX-202-B for the jury and Ms. Ventura only? For the court and counsel, that's the second document in the binder.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, do you see that exhibit?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: Do you recognize who's depicted in that exhibit?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: Who is that?
CASANDRA VENTURA: That's Jules.
MS. JOHNSON: And at what -- at what type of event is this still image taken from?
CASANDRA VENTURA: This is during a freak-off.
MS. JOHNSON: Have you seen this image as part of a larger video?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: And where was that video found, if you know?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um, off of one of the devices that I gave to the government.
MS. JOHNSON: When you gave those devices to the government, were all of those devices working at the time?
CASANDRA VENTURA: No, they were actually all broken.
MS. JOHNSON: And when had they been broken? How long had they been broken for?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Some for years, yeah.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. Ms. Gavin, can you take that document down, please. And put up Government Exhibit 205 -- BX-205-B for Ms. Ventura and for the jury. For counsel, that is the third, and the court, that's the third document.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, do you recognize who's depicted in this image?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes, that is me and Jules. I think.
MS. JOHNSON: Is this a frame from a longer video that you've watched?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yeah.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. And what was the occasion where you were with Jules in this video?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Also a freak-off.
MS. JOHNSON: And on whose device was that recovered?
CASANDRA VENTURA: From one of my devices that I gave the government.
MS. JOHNSON: One of the broken ones?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. Ms. Gavin, can you take that down, please. And put up Government Exhibit BX-206-B for Ms. Ventura and the jury only. For counsel, that would be the fourth document in the binder and for the court.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, do you recognize who is in -- who is depicted in Government Exhibit BX-206-B?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yeah, that's me and Dave.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. What are you and Dave doing?
CASANDRA VENTURA: We are in a freak-off.
MS. JOHNSON: And is this exhibit a still image from a video?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: And the video is from the same source as the previous exhibits?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Same source, broken something.
MS. JOHNSON: Can you take that down, Ms. Gavin, and please put up Government Exhibit BX-208-B for Ms. Ventura and for the jury only. For counsel, that is the fifth document in the binder.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, do you recognize who is depicted in Government Exhibit BX-208-B?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes, it's me and Greg.
MS. JOHNSON: Did we see a photograph of Greg earlier today?
CASANDRA VENTURA: We did.
MS. JOHNSON: And is this another still image taken from one of the videos recovered on one of your broken devices?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. Ms. Gavin, can you please take that down, and pull up what's in evidence as Government Exhibit BX-601-C for Ms. Ventura and for the jury only. For counsel, that's the -- and the Court that's the sixth document in the binder.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, do you recognize who's depicted in Government Exhibit BX-601-C?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yep. That's me.
MS. JOHNSON: And at what event -- what are you doing in this photograph?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I'm sitting on the couch at a freak-off by myself.
MS. JOHNSON: And what is between you and the couch?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um, a big cover, like bed cover, sheet.
MS. JOHNSON: Some kind of linen?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Linen, yeah.
MS. JOHNSON: And what's on the floor?
CASANDRA VENTURA: The same thing.
MS. JOHNSON: What are you wearing on your feet?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Very high shoes.
MS. JOHNSON: And what's next to you, if you can see it, on the side table?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Looks like water. Bottle of water.
MS. JOHNSON: You mentioned drinking water a lot at the freak-offs earlier. Why did you need to drink water?
CASANDRA VENTURA: To stay hydrated from all of the partying.
MS. JOHNSON: When you say partying, what do you mean by partying?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Using drugs, drinking alcohol.
MS. JOHNSON: And finally, Ms. Gavin, can you take that document, exhibit down, and put up Government Exhibit BX-602-A, which is in evidence, for Ms. Ventura and for the jury only. And that's the last document in the binder for the court and for the defendant.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, do you recognize who's depicted in this exhibit?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yep, that's me.
MS. JOHNSON: Okay. And what's on your skin in this exhibit?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Oil.
MS. JOHNSON: And what are you doing in this exhibit?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Just standing there and next to the bed.
MS. JOHNSON: Was this taken at a freak-off, if you know?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: And what's behind you on the nightstand?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Candle, looks like some tops for the different lubricants.
MS. JOHNSON: And if you can take that down, Ms. Gavin. And just for the clarity of the record, Judge, I wanted to -- I'm not sure if I mentioned when I offered the BX series that the government would offer all of those series under seal.
MS. ESTEVAO: No objection.
THE COURT: All right. They will be admitted under seal.
BY MS. JOHNSON:
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, I'm going to turn to a different topic now. You've testified both yesterday and today about Sean physically hurt you during your relationship. Do you recall that testimony?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: Approximately when in your relationship was Sean first physical with you?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Pretty early on within, like, the first year of us dating.
MS. JOHNSON: And after that time, how frequent was he physical -- how frequently was he physical with you?
CASANDRA VENTURA: It was frequently enough. It was a thing that became pretty common, eventually.
MS. JOHNSON: Who, if any of Sean's employees, do you recall being present for Sean being physical with you?
MS. ESTEVAO: Objection to physical being vague.
THE COURT: Ms. Johnson, can you rephrase or ask a clarifying question?
MS. JOHNSON: Sure.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, you have testified that Sean was physical with you before, right?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: And you testified that that includes -- what actions does being physical include?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Being punched, kicked, dragged, mushed.
MS. JOHNSON: If I refer to those actions collectively as physical abuse, will you know what I'm talking about?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: Who, if any of Sean's employees, do you recall being present for Sean's physical abuse of you?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um, there were --
THE COURT: Hold on for a second. I think the objection was for lack of a timeframe. I think we need more specificity on the question.
MS. JOHNSON: OK.
MS. JOHNSON: Starting at the beginning of your relationship, Ms. Ventura, which was approximately 2007, is that right?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: Who, if any of Sean's employees, do you recall being present or witnessing Sean's physical abuse of you?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Security.
MS. JOHNSON: Who from security, if you remember?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um, at that point, definitely his driver, Malik. That was in New York. It was a long time ago. I don't know exactly who was there.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. What about later in your relationship, sort of in the middle of your relationship. Same question to you. Who, if any of Sean's employees, do you recall being present or witnessing physical abuse of you?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um, at that point, it would have been some of his assistants and his security as well.
MS. JOHNSON: Who specifically, if you recall, from Sean's assistants witnessed physical abuse?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Mia.
MS. JOHNSON: Anyone else?
CASANDRA VENTURA: There were other assistants that I know definitely quit, because they told me that they didn't want --
MS. ESTEVAO: Objection.
THE COURT: Grounds?
MS. ESTEVAO: Hearsay.
MS. JOHNSON: We're not offering it for its truth, your Honor. We are offering to understand Ms. Ventura's state of mind.
THE COURT: I'll sustain the objection. The answer was nonresponsive. Maybe ask a fresh question, and we can get an answer.
BY MS. JOHNSON:
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, are you aware if any of Sean's employees quit after witnessing physical abuse --
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: -- of you?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: Which employee quit?
CASANDRA VENTURA: There was an employee that quit named George Kaplan.
MS. JOHNSON: You also mentioned that around the middle of your relationship, security witnessed physical abuse, Sean's physical abuse of you?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um-hmm.
MS. JOHNSON: Who from security was aware of or was present for or witnessed physical abuse?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um, Bonds, Uncle Paulie, D Rock.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, did you see pictures of those individuals yesterday?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I did.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. At the end of your relationship --
MS. ESTEVAO: Your Honor, objection to just the beginning and end of the relationship. Could we have some more specificity than this?
THE COURT: I think that's fair. Isolate it in terms of an actual timeframe.
MS. JOHNSON: Yes, your Honor.
MS. JOHNSON: Starting in approximately 2015 through 2018, would you call that about the end of your relationship, Ms. Ventura?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yeah.
MS. JOHNSON: So during that time period, who of Sean's employees do you recall being present for or witnessing his physical abuse of you?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Security, staff, um, and management.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. Let's take those one by one. Who from security do you recall witnessing or being present for the abuse?
CASANDRA VENTURA: At that point, D Rock.
MS. JOHNSON: What about staff?
CASANDRA VENTURA: At that point, um, well, just before that, Mia was no longer there, but she had seen. Um, I'm trying to think of who else. I just lost it...
MS. JOHNSON: OK. You mentioned management?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yeah.
MS. JOHNSON: What management, from where?
CASANDRA VENTURA: The management that worked with us, James Cruz, witnessed some of the violence.
MS. JOHNSON: Did you ever initiate a physical fight with Sean?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I did.
MS. JOHNSON: If you did, in those cases, what, if any, injuries did you see on Sean after you initiated a fight?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I didn't see anything after the fight.
MS. JOHNSON: Were you ever injured after Sean was physically abusive with you?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: How often?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Any time he was physical there would at least be some trace, a bruise or something.
MS. JOHNSON: What, if anything, did you do to recover from these times?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Recovery was days worth. I would just kind of hide out for that period.
MS. JOHNSON: Where would you hide?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Hotel rooms.
MS. ESTEVAO: Your Honor, objection to the general nature of all these questions. If we can have some more specificity, it would be very helpful.
THE COURT: Let's have a brief sidebar.
(Continued on next page)
(At the sidebar)
THE COURT: What's the objection?
MS. ESTEVAO: Your Honor, this questioning has been going on for some time now. The questions are related to general instances of physical abuse. And we're talking about an 11-year relationship, and it's not clear to us what instances of abuse that we're talking about here. So it's difficult for us to follow the general nature of the questioning and be able to respond to this. If there are instances of physical abuse that the government wants to question her about, then they should do that. But this general questioning over and over again is cumulative. It's -- it's speculative, and we ask that they try to pin down the year -- at least the year that they are talking about here.
THE COURT: All right. Ms. Johnson, when you clarified using the years, that didn't draw any objection. It might be easy for you to do that. So is that something that we can do? I think that the objection really is that we're talking about different events that are -- may have similar hallmarks but are not the same events. It makes it very difficult to understand which events the witness is speaking about, but there is probably some clarification that you can provide to help the witness isolate which events she's addressing.
MS. JOHNSON: Of course. And I'm about to get to very specific events.
THE COURT: OK.
MS. JOHNSON: I just want to caution that the witness is not always going to know the year, and so that's why --
THE COURT: That's understandable.
MS. JOHNSON: You know, it's a long time ago. She has some memory issues as a result of some injuries, and so for that to be --
THE COURT: That's fine. When you use the general timeframe, I think you gave a three-year period as signifying the end of the relationship. I think that was helpful to make sure that we understood exactly what we were talking about.
MS. JOHNSON: Yes.
THE COURT: If you do that, that is helpful.
MS. ESTEVAO: Also just to add, your Honor, based on our understanding of her interviews with the government, there are a select number of instances of physical abuse in the range of seven to ten, and those are the ones we have been focusing on and we're prepared to address. These questions just about the general nature of physical abuse in the abstract without getting into those specifics is -- it gives the impression that once Ms. Johnson gets to the point of the specific incidents that there are more than those specific incidents that exist.
THE COURT: Now you're previewing your cross-examination for Ms. Johnson. That's helpful. But that's exactly the kind of thing that you would be able to explore on cross-examination. I think for present purposes, the nature of your objection is that it's just vague and that's the main objection.
MS. ESTEVAO: And it gives a misimpression to the jury at this point.
MS. JOHNSON: I want to be clear though, this witness will testify, and that's been reflected in the government's 3500 materials, that there are certain specific events of violence that we're about to get to, but these are by no means the only incidents of violence and that she doesn't remember every incidence of violence because it was pervasive over an 11-year period.
THE COURT: Understood. You've asked questions along those lines, and she has given answers about what she did and did not remember. I understand that. But I think we're all on the same page. Let's take it from here. If you have further objections, you can raise them.
MS. ESTEVAO: Thank you.
MS. JOHNSON: Thank you.
(Continued on next page)
(In open court)
THE COURT: Ms. Johnson, you may proceed.
BY MS. JOHNSON:
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, I would like to direct your attention to the first few years of your relationship with Mr. Combs, approximately 2007 to 2008. Is that right?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yep.
MS. JOHNSON: During that time, in what city was the first instance of physical violence?
CASANDRA VENTURA: New York City.
MS. JOHNSON: Where were you earlier that evening before the instance we're about to talk about of physical violence?
CASANDRA VENTURA: We were eating at a restaurant called Phillipe.
MS. JOHNSON: And can you please describe what happened at that restaurant?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um, there was a downstairs, like, private eating area, and Sean and friends and just a lot of different people came to the dinner. There was a brief moment where I saw -- caught Sean, like, flirting with somebody, I think, and there was another person and looked at me and saw that I saw it. I shrugged my shoulders, like whatever, and then when we got in the car, he knocked me around and was just really mean.
MS. JOHNSON: When you said he knocked you around in the car, who is he?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Sean.
MS. JOHNSON: And who else, if anyone, was present in the vehicle when you got in?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Security. Security driver.
MS. JOHNSON: And when you say knocked you around, can you be more specific about what Sean did?
CASANDRA VENTURA: He hit me in the side of my head, and I fell to the floor of the car. We were in his Escalade. Just shook me up and scared me quite a bit to the point where I just was trying to get out of the car, and I finally got out of the car.
MS. JOHNSON: And how did you feel after that first -- after that instance of violence?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I was just shocked. I didn't, um, I didn't necessarily understand what happened and why he was so angry, except for the little bit that he said as he was, like, hitting me in the car. Um, yeah, and I just went home kind of hid out after that.
MS. JOHNSON: Directing your attention now to January of 2009, do you recall attending an event at the Ace of Diamonds in Los Angeles in January of 2009?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: Why were you at the Ace of Diamonds?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I was there with Sean. He was hosting a party, I believe.
MS. JOHNSON: Were you drinking at this party?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yeah.
MS. JOHNSON: What happened, if anything, as you left the party?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um, as we left the party, I had been speaking to a producer about music, and Sean called me a slut or a bitch or something, and when we got in the car, I punched him in the face.
MS. JOHNSON: Did you make contact with Sean's face?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I believe so.
MS. JOHNSON: How hard did you hit him?
CASANDRA VENTURA: As hard as you can hit somebody when you're drunk like that. I don't know.
MS. JOHNSON: Had you hit Sean before that time?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Not that I recall, no.
MS. JOHNSON: Did you see any injuries on Sean's face after you hit him?
MS. JOHNSON: What was Sean's response after you hit him?
CASANDRA VENTURA: His whole demeanor just switched over. I remember his eyes went black. It was just like we were in the -- we were in an Escalade, but the two sitting in the middle, the two seats that are separate from each other with the windows down, and we had a friend kind of like following us back to the house. So all that went down with the windows down. And then after I punched him and he attacked me, and I was basically, like, underneath the backseat in the Escalade, just trying to cover my face.
MS. JOHNSON: Why were you trying to cover your face?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Because Sean was stomping on it with his foot.
MS. JOHNSON: How long did Sean stomp on your face with his foot?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um, the ride back to the house was short, but I mean, the whole ride was a fight until we got there. Probably, like, a -- ten-minutes up the hill from the party.
MS. JOHNSON: When you say the whole ride was a fight, what part of the fight happened for most of the ride?
CASANDRA VENTURA: It just was me trying to defend myself and cover myself up. I was just being -- um, I just never experienced anything like that before that where I just was getting really, really badly beaten. Yeah.
MS. JOHNSON: Where was the destination of the -- where was the car going while you were getting beaten in the car?
CASANDRA VENTURA: The car was going back to Sean's house that he was renting at the time.
MS. JOHNSON: When you got to Sean's home, what did you do?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I took off running. I got out of the car and started running down the street.
MS. JOHNSON: What happened after you took off and ran?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Pretty sure security caught up with me, and I was brought back to the house.
MS. JOHNSON: Who from security do you remember catching up with you?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Roger Bonds.
MS. JOHNSON: When you were brought back to the house, what happened at the house?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um, at the house, I went down into his -- Sean's bedroom downstairs, and I finally, like, I saw my face. Just -- I just didn't look like myself at all. Um, just knots and bleeding. Swollen everything. I just -- I looked horrible, and then shortly after Sean came in and he saw me. I think I was vomiting when he came in, and he kind of came to and, like, the person that he switched over to was now gone and, like, freaking out at the sight.
MS. JOHNSON: After Sean saw your face inside the home, what happened next?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um, basically he said that I had to go sneak out of the house, out of the back with security, and go to a hotel and just stay there. So I went to the London Hotel on Sunset.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. In Los Angeles?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: And just to back up to when you were in the car, who else, if anyone, was in the car with you and Sean during the drive where he was stomping on your face?
CASANDRA VENTURA: During the drive, I remember an assistant and the security driver, Bonds, the driver, security.
MS. JOHNSON: And Bonds is the same person who ran after you when you ran away?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um-hmm. Yeah.
MS. JOHNSON: Did you say yes?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes, sorry.
MS. JOHNSON: And you testified that you went to -- Sean told you to go to the London Hotel after he saw you, is that right?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yeah, he had security bring me there and, like, sneak into the hotel.
MS. JOHNSON: When you say sneak in, what do you mean by that?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I was just covered up because nobody could see me like that.
MS. JOHNSON: When you say you were covered up, what part of your body was covered up?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Mostly my face. My head.
MS. JOHNSON: Approximately how long were you at the London Hotel?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I stayed that week, for about a week, maybe a little more.
MS. JOHNSON: Did you want to stay at the London Hotel?
CASANDRA VENTURA: No. Um, the next day and I actually -- actually, I was trying to go home to my mom.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. Did you tell anyone you wanted to go home to your mom?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I did.
MS. JOHNSON: Who did you tell?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I told security. I told the assistant that came and brought me ice cream.
MS. JOHNSON: Who from security, if you remember, did you tell?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Bonds.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. And the assistant who brought you ice cream, do you recall the name of that individual?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Genevieve.
MS. JOHNSON: Besides security and Genevieve, who else, if anyone who worked for Sean, came to check on you while you were in the hotel?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I don't really remember. I think the only other person would be Derek Roche, stylist.
MS. ESTEVAO: Objection.
THE COURT: That's overruled.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. While you were at the hotel, what contact, if any, did you have with Sean?
CASANDRA VENTURA: He would just check-in and was the one who definitely said I couldn't go home.
MS. JOHNSON: Did you tell Sean you wanted to leave?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I don't remember. I -- I'm sure -- I know I said that I wanted to go home, so I guess, yeah, I did.
MS. JOHNSON: And what did Sean say when you said you wanted to go home?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Just absolutely not.
MS. JOHNSON: Did you feel that you could leave the London Hotel?
MS. JOHNSON: And why not?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Well, I don't think I would have gotten out of there smoothly. It was not safe. I didn't have just the resources I need to get out and move and not have anybody stop me.
MS. JOHNSON: When you say not safe, can you explain what you mean by that?
CASANDRA VENTURA: That I felt not safe?
MS. JOHNSON: Right. Like, you said leaving wouldn't be safe. Can you explain what you mean by not safe?
CASANDRA VENTURA: It wouldn't be safe. I mean, I understood at that point it was still early, but I understood Sean's capabilities, his access to guns, like, and the threats that he made prior to that. Yeah. I was privy.
MS. JOHNSON: And when you were taken to the hotel after the assault, did you want to go to the hotel?
CASANDRA VENTURA: No. In fact, I remember wanting to stay at the house, but I was not allowed to.
MS. JOHNSON: And you mentioned that you had to cover your face when you entered the hotel that first time?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um-hmm.
MS. JOHNSON: Who, if anyone, told you to cover your face?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Sean. He wanted me to get in there without people seeing me and security.
MS. JOHNSON: When you say security, are you still referring to Bonds?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: You mentioned that you said you wanted to stay at the house?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um-hmm.
MS. JOHNSON: Who didn't allow you to stay at the house?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Sean didn't.
MS. JOHNSON: Are you aware if Sean's assault after the club was publicly reported?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um, I don't -- I know that there was a blind item. Did she object?
MS. ESTEVAO: Objection. Sorry.
MS. JOHNSON: Yes.
THE COURT: On what grounds? It's overruled.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, I'll reask the question. Are you aware if this incident was publicly reported?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I am only aware that there was a blind item on the internet without our names that described exactly what happened from someone's point of view.
MS. JOHNSON: And who, if anyone, raised that blind item to you?
CASANDRA VENTURA: My mother.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. Can you describe the conversation with your mother?
MS. ESTEVAO: Objection.
MS. JOHNSON: We're not offering this for its truth.
THE COURT: It's overruled.
CASANDRA VENTURA: The conversation that I had with my mother?
MS. JOHNSON: Yes.
CASANDRA VENTURA: She was pretty straightforward, and so she just asked me, um, and I said no. It was before FaceTime was really popular. So I could still hide.
MS. JOHNSON: When you say your mom asked you, what did she ask you?
CASANDRA VENTURA: She said that she had read an item on the internet, and she wanted to know if it was me. And she sent it to me.
MS. JOHNSON: And what did you tell her when she asked you that question?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I said nope. It's not me.
MS. JOHNSON: Was that truthful?
MS. JOHNSON: Can you explain to the jury why you did not tell your mom the truth?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I didn't tell my mom the truth because I was ashamed, um, but also felt like, at that point, I didn't know what was going to happen and I didn't -- I also didn't want to put my mother in danger for knowing anything of that magnitude.
MS. JOHNSON: When were you allowed to leave the hotel?
CASANDRA VENTURA: When Sean wanted me to go with him to the studio.
MS. JOHNSON: How did you find out that Sean wanted you to go with him to the studio?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Staff, somebody reached out and told me to get ready.
MS. JOHNSON: Approximately how long were you at the London Hotel?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I would say seven to -- somewhere between seven and ten days.
MS. JOHNSON: And when the staff reached out to you and said Sean wanted you in the studio, where did you go?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Went to Chalice, the studio.
MS. JOHNSON: Is that a recording studio?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: And when you left the London Hotel to go to Chalice, what, if any, injuries were still visible on your face?
CASANDRA VENTURA: You could still see my eyes were, like, bloodshot on both sides. Um, I still had some bruising around my mouth and my eye, but I wore sunglasses and just put makeup on.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Gavin, can you please pull up for identification Government Exhibit 2A-502 for the court and parties only.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, do you recognize the individual depicted in 2A-502?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: Who is that?
CASANDRA VENTURA: That's a makeup artist named Mylah Morales.
MS. JOHNSON: How do you know Mylah?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I worked with Mylah when I was maybe 15 or 16. We did Vibe magazine together, and she just kind of became a bit of a big sister in the industry to me.
MS. JOHNSON: Is this a fair and accurate photograph of Mylah Morales?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: The government offers Government Exhibit 2A-502.
MS. ESTEVAO: No objection.
THE COURT: It will be admitted.
(Government Exhibit 2A-502 received in evidence)
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Comey reminds me I need to publish this to the jury. Ms. Gavin, could you please publish Government Exhibit 2A-502 to the jury.
BY MS. JOHNSON:
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, did there come a time when you stayed with Mylah after a physical fight with Sean?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: Do you know the year that this happened?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I don't remember the exact year, no.
MS. JOHNSON: Can you approximate where in your relationship it occurred?
CASANDRA VENTURA: In the first half.
MS. JOHNSON: In what city did this occur?
CASANDRA VENTURA: In Los Angeles.
MS. JOHNSON: Before you stayed with Mylah, how did the night begin?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I was staying at the Beverly Hills Hotel and was with some girlfriends. We had dinner, and I went back to my room. And one of my girlfriends that had left called us back and said that there was a party at Prince's house, and he was going to perform, and so she invited us and we went.
MS. JOHNSON: Was there any discussion about going to Prince's house?
CASANDRA VENTURA: With Sean or?
MS. JOHNSON: Sorry. Among your girlfriends, was there any discussion of going to Prince's house?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: What was the discussion? What was the nature of the discussion?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Just that it would be fun. He's performing, probably, in his basement. And, yeah, just like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
MS. JOHNSON: Did you talk to Sean about it?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Nope.
MS. JOHNSON: Why not?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Because he definitely would not have let me go.
MS. ESTEVAO: Objection.
THE COURT: That's sustained.
MS. JOHNSON: When you were at the Beverly Hills Hotel that night, who, if anyone, else were you staying with?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I was staying on my own, but Mylah had laid down on the couch to take a nap. So she didn't join us to the party.
MS. JOHNSON: Was Sean in L.A. at this time?
CASANDRA VENTURA: He was.
MS. JOHNSON: Did you and your girlfriends end up going to the party?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes, we did.
MS. JOHNSON: You testified that you didn't discuss going to the party with Sean.
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um-hmm.
MS. JOHNSON: Is that right?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yep.
MS. JOHNSON: Based on your years of dating Sean at that point -- this is in the first half of your relationship, is that correct?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um-hmm, um-hmm, yes.
MS. JOHNSON: What would you think Sean would have said --
MS. ESTEVAO: Objection.
MS. JOHNSON: -- if you had asked?
MS. ESTEVAO: Objection.
THE COURT: I think there is a clarifying question to ask, but I'm not sure that that is the one.
BY MS. JOHNSON:
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, at this point, have you been dating Sean for a few years?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: What did you think Sean would do if you asked to go to the party?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I thought he would say no.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. When you were at the party, what happened?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um, we arrived and went downstairs. There weren't that many people there, and Prince wasn't performing yet. So we were just there, and I saw some executives, from like, BET. I saw different people that I knew through Sean, and then suddenly I heard that he was there.
MS. JOHNSON: And when you say he, who were you talking about?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Sean.
MS. JOHNSON: You mentioned you went to the party with your girlfriends?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um-hmm.
MS. JOHNSON: Have we spoken about any of the girlfriends that were present at this trial?
CASANDRA VENTURA: One of them.
MS. JOHNSON: Who was that?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Natalie.
MS. JOHNSON: Anyone else, if you remember?
CASANDRA VENTURA: And Mia.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. When Sean arrived at the party, what did you do?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I left. I heard he was there and then I caught a glimpse of him, so I ran out as fast as I could, um, to the front yard.
MS. JOHNSON: Why did you run out as fast as you could?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Because I could tell he was angry. I knew he was angry at me.
MS. JOHNSON: How could you tell he was angry?
CASANDRA VENTURA: His facial expressions. And he came after me, so, yeah.
MS. JOHNSON: When you ran out of the party, who else, if anyone, ran out with you?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um, Mia, I believe, ran out with me.
MS. JOHNSON: And what, if anything, do you remember about what happened after you ran out of the party?
CASANDRA VENTURA: It's a little fuzzy, but the most distinct memory I have is like running and falling into the bushes in the front yard. And, like, I don't know if at that point he was over me. I have no idea. I just remember falling in the bushes, and then getting up quickly and getting in the car to get back to the hotel.
MS. JOHNSON: And did you see Sean again after Prince's house?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes, he came to the Beverly Hills Hotel where I was staying.
MS. JOHNSON: And you mentioned earlier that Mylah was in your hotel room, is that right?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yeah. She was asleep on the couch in the living room.
MS. JOHNSON: And when Sean came to the hotel what happened?
CASANDRA VENTURA: When he came to the hotel, he just burst in the room, and I didn't want Mylah to see or hear anything. So we went in the bedroom. Um, and we were in a bad fight, and he beat me up in that room. He was throwing luggage at me. Just calling me all kinds of names.
MS. JOHNSON: After the hotel, where did you go?
CASANDRA VENTURA: After the hotel, Mylah helped pack me up, and we went and stayed at her house in L.A.
MS. JOHNSON: How long were you there?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I would say for about three to four days, maybe.
MS. JOHNSON: What, if any, visible injuries did you have from the fight with Sean?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um, bruising on my face, knots on my head, just -- it was always, like, a little bit similar whenever I would get hurt.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Gavin, can you please pull up for identification for the court and the parties only Government Exhibit 2A-501.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, do you recognize who is depicted in Government Exhibit 2A-501?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: Who is that?
CASANDRA VENTURA: That's Scott Mescudi or Kid Cudi, as people know him.
MS. JOHNSON: And how do you know Mr. Mescudi?
CASANDRA VENTURA: We dated in 2011. We worked together for a brief period.
MS. JOHNSON: Is this a fair and accurate photograph of Mr. Mescudi?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: The government offers Government Exhibit 2A-501?
MS. ESTEVAO: No objection.
THE COURT: It will be admitted.
(Government Exhibit 2A-501 received in evidence)
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Gavin, please publish it to the jury.
BY MS. JOHNSON:
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, you mentioned that Mr. Mescudi is known by other names. If I call him Scott during this testimony, will you know who I'm talking about?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: And directing your attention to December of 2011, what was your relationship with Scott at this time?
CASANDRA VENTURA: At that time, we had just, like, formally met around then, just before then. And we were working together and friends, and then we started dating.
MS. JOHNSON: When you started dating Scott, did you tell Sean about Scott?
MS. JOHNSON: What was the status of your relationship with Sean at that time?
CASANDRA VENTURA: We were always, like, up and down at different times, and it was definitely a time where we were not in the greatest place.
MS. JOHNSON: Did there come a time when Sean found out about Scott?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: How did he find out? How did Sean find out?
CASANDRA VENTURA: He actually found out during a freak-off in L.A. He went through my phone, and I believe he saw e-mails between me and one of his staff members.
MS. JOHNSON: And who was the staff member whose e-mails Sean saw?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Capricorn Clark.
MS. JOHNSON: And what about those e-mails would have alerted Sean to your relationship with Scott?
CASANDRA VENTURA: It was about bringing my toiletry bag to his house, or something like that, the next day.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Gavin, you can take down the exhibit.
MS. JOHNSON: After Sean went through your phone and saw those e-mails, what was his reaction?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I just remember him putting like a wine bottle opener between his fingers and, like, lunging at me, just a whole -- his eyes blacked out, super angry. And I just had to get out of there. It was actually another time I was able to get out of a freak-off.
MS. JOHNSON: When you were able to get out of there, where did you go?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I went back to -- I had another hotel that I was staying at. And I went and I had a burner phone, and I went to get the phone. And I called Scott, and he came and picked me up.
MS. JOHNSON: What's a burner phone?
CASANDRA VENTURA: It's not my -- it's not your real number. It's just a phone you use.
MS. JOHNSON: Why did you have a burner phone at the time?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Because I was dating Scott, and I didn't want, um, Sean to find out.
MS. JOHNSON: And before you left the hotel room where you were with Sean, when he lunged at you with the wine opener, did he make any contact with you?
MS. JOHNSON: How much do you remember of what happened after Sean found out about Scott?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I remember, like, the order of the day. It was a very long, um, drawn out day. But some of the pieces are a little bit, um, fuzzy.
MS. JOHNSON: So starting with Scott, you just testified that when you got back to your hotel room, you used your burner phone to call Scott, is that right?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Correct.
MS. JOHNSON: When did you next see Scott?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um, when he came and picked me up on -- I think it was Wilshire Boulevard, just in the middle of the street.
MS. JOHNSON: Where did you go after Scott picked you up?
CASANDRA VENTURA: After he picked me up, we went to his house in the hills.
MS. JOHNSON: Pulling up for identification for the court and the parties only Government Exhibit 2A-406.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, do you recognize who is depicted in Government Exhibit 2A-406?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes, that's Capricorn Clark.
MS. JOHNSON: Is that the Capricorn Clark whose e-mails you referenced earlier?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: And how do you know Capricorn?
CASANDRA VENTURA: We worked together. She worked with Sean, and that's how I met her. She went through, I think, a Sean John campaign, and then she started to help me with my artistry and stuff.
MS. JOHNSON: Did Capricorn work with Sean or for Sean?
CASANDRA VENTURA: For Sean.
MS. JOHNSON: And is this a fair and accurate photograph of Capricorn Clark?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: I'll offer it as Government Exhibit 2A-406.
MS. ESTEVAO: No objection.
THE COURT: It will be admitted.
(Government Exhibit 2A-406 received in evidence)
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Gavin, can you please publish Government Exhibit 2A-406.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, what, if anything, do you recall about interacting with Capricorn that day after you had met up with Scott?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Well, we reached out to her because she obviously knew about my relationship with Scott, and just explained to her everything that had happened. She came over to Scott's house.
MS. JOHNSON: And after you met up with Capricorn, where did you go next?
CASANDRA VENTURA: After I met up with Capricorn, I ended up going to Sean's house.
MS. JOHNSON: Why did you go to Sean's house?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Cap said he just wanted to talk and, you know, the better -- I just felt like the better to resolve it in that moment was to go there and just speak to him. So I went.
MS. JOHNSON: When you say you went to Sean's house, which of his homes did you go or to?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um, one of the homes he was renting. It was actually the one that you showed yesterday.
MS. JOHNSON: The photograph I showed you yesterday?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um-hmm.
MS. JOHNSON: Which is, for the record, Government Exhibit 2B-101 and 102. What happened when you arrived at Sean's house?
CASANDRA VENTURA: When I arrived at his house, that was the house where his bedroom was on the top floor, the same as the entryway. So I went in his room, and he was irate. He was just so angry, and when I was in the room, he told me about videos that he had that he was going to release, and how he was going to hurt Scott and I. Um, so that was all said there, and then I just -- I ultimately just left.
MS. JOHNSON: When Sean mentioned videos that he had that he was going to release, what videos is he referring to?
CASANDRA VENTURA: To freak-off videos of me.
MS. JOHNSON: What happened when you were leaving?
CASANDRA VENTURA: When I was leaving, I was more than ready to go. He, Sean, kicked me in my back on the way out. So I had just a big bruise on my back. I fell to the floor and, yeah, yeah. And then left.
MS. JOHNSON: What, if any, injuries did you have from being kicked in the back?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I had a large bruise on my back. I had -- it's fuzzy. The day is fuzzy, but I had bruises in other places on my body. I just remember that one significantly because he literally kicked me with the bottom of his foot in my back.
MS. JOHNSON: And after leaving Sean's house, where did you eventually go?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I eventually went to -- I went to my hotel first to get my stuff, the hotel that had the burner phone.
MS. JOHNSON: What was the condition of your hotel room?
CASANDRA VENTURA: It was just torn up. There was -- somebody peed all over the floor in the bathroom. My clothes were everywhere. All the furniture was turned upside down. Somebody pooped in the toilet and didn't flush it. It was just gross.
MS. JOHNSON: After that hotel room, where did you go next?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I went to another hotel. This was just before Christmas, so it was, like, literally the night before I left to go home to Connecticut for Christmas. And I stayed at a -- the Sunset Marquis with Scott.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Gavin, can you please pull up what's in evidence as Government Exhibit B-315 and publish it.
BY MS. JOHNSON:
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, start from the from line. Who sent this e-mail?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Me, Veronica Bang, an alias that I used.
MS. JOHNSON: Who did you send this e-mail to?
CASANDRA VENTURA: To my mom and Capricorn.
MS. JOHNSON: And when is the date this e-mail was sent?
CASANDRA VENTURA: December 23, 2011.
MS. JOHNSON: Where were you when you sent this e-mail?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I was actually on my flight to Boston, Connecticut, for Christmas.
MS. JOHNSON: Can you read the contents of the e-mail?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Threats. The threats that have been made towards me by Sean Puffy Combs are that he is going to release two explicit sex tapes of me. One on Christmas Day, maybe before or right after, and another one some time soon after that. He has also said that he will be having someone hurt me and Scott Mescudi physically (he made a point that it wouldn't be by his hands, he actually said he'd be out of the country when it happened).
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Gavin, if you can you pull up for identification Government Exhibit 3Q-109 and 3Q-112, side by side.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, do you recognize who's depicted in these photos?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yep, that's me.
MS. JOHNSON: Where are these photos taken?
CASANDRA VENTURA: They are taken at my mom's house.
MS. JOHNSON: And approximately when were these photos taken?
CASANDRA VENTURA: When I got to Connecticut for --
MS. JOHNSON: I'm sorry for interrupting you.
CASANDRA VENTURA: It's OK.
MS. JOHNSON: Are these true and accurate photos taken by your mom from when you got home to Connecticut in December 2011?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: The government offer Government Exhibit 3Q-109 and 3Q-112.
MS. ESTEVAO: No objection.
THE COURT: These exhibits will be admitted.
(Government's Exhibits 3Q-109 and 3Q-112 received in evidence)
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Gavin, can you please publish them to the jury.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, how long after you arrived in Connecticut were these photos taken, approximately?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Within the first, like, 12, like, six to 12 hours of being there. Right away because my mom knew.
MS. JOHNSON: And you testified that your mom took these photographs. What led to your mom taking photographs?
CASANDRA VENTURA: She asked me if I had been hurt and I told her the truth. Yeah.
MS. JOHNSON: And what, if any, injuries are visible on the photographs?
CASANDRA VENTURA: There is bruising, there is a dark bruise on my left lower back, butt area where I was kicked, and then another one in my thigh.
MS. JOHNSON: When you say where you were kicked, is that the kick in the back you described?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yeah. That was the kick in the back where I fell to the ground before I left the house.
MS. JOHNSON: And that's before you left Sean's house?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Before I left Sean's house in Los Angeles.
MS. JOHNSON: Were you entirely honest with your mom about the physical abuse that you were experiencing when you spoke to her in December 2011?
CASANDRA VENTURA: No. I believe I told her this was the first time.
MS. JOHNSON: Did you tell her about the freak-offs?
MS. JOHNSON: Why didn't you tell your mom about everything?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I couldn't hurt her like that. Um, I just wasn't there with it. I wasn't ready. And I was also just terrified. Like, it's not normal.
MS. JOHNSON: What's not normal?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Just constantly be bruised up by the person that you love, or that says they love you. Like, you can't justify it to anyone, just, especially not your mom.
CASANDRA VENTURA: Is it possible for me to take a break, a quick break?
MS. JOHNSON: Do you need to take a break?
THE COURT: Of course. We will take a ten-minute break.
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes. I appreciate it.
THE COURT: We'll take a break. Come back at 3:05. All rise.
(Continued on next page)
(Jury not present).
THE COURT: Come back in ten minutes.
CASANDRA VENTURA: Thank you.
THE COURT: Please be seated. We'll come back in ten minutes.
(Recess)
THE COURT: Ms. Comey, as we wait for Ms. Johnson and the witness, do you have a sense of how much time we have left on direct examination?
MS. COMEY: My guess is we have about another hour, but I would not want to be held to that, your Honor, because I'm not putting the witness on.
THE COURT: I won't hold you to it.
MS. COMEY: Thank you, your Honor.
THE COURT: I will loosely hold you to it.
MS. COMEY: The goal is to finish the direct with time to start cross-examination before the end of the day today.
THE COURT: OK. Thank you.
MS. GERAGOS: Your Honor, I was just conferring with Ms. Johnson, I'll put it on the record, speaking about a few remaining exhibits they intend to introduce on 106 issues. For efficiency purposes, if we don't figure that out by today, we will allow them to put them in on redirect. I Just wanted to let you know.
THE COURT: Very good. Let's get Ms. Ventura and then we'll bring in our jury. Welcome back.
CASANDRA VENTURA: Thank you.
(Continued on next page)
(Jury present)
THE COURT: Please be seated. Ms. Johnson, you may proceed when ready.
BY MS. JOHNSON:
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, before the break, we were talking about you being in Connecticut for the holidays in 2011. Do you remember that?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. Who else, if anyone, came to Connecticut with you for the holidays?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I flew there alone, but Scott came and met me there for a little bit.
MS. JOHNSON: How long did Scott stay in Connecticut?
CASANDRA VENTURA: He stayed, I think, like, three or four days.
MS. JOHNSON: Approximately when did he leave?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Right before New Year's Eve.
MS. JOHNSON: When Scott left Connecticut, what was the status of your relationship with Scott?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um, I had broken it off with him. It was just too much.
MS. JOHNSON: When you say too much, can you explain what you mean by that?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um, too much danger, too much uncertainty of, like, what could happen if we continued to see each other. Um, I just --
MS. ESTEVAO: Objection.
THE COURT: Overruled.
MS. JOHNSON: When you say danger, what specific danger were you worried about?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I mean, Sean said to me, before I left L.A. that he was going to hurt the both of us. And I, at least, took that in my mind, like, if I stay in this situation, we both will be hurt. If I don't, then no one will be.
MS. JOHNSON: How long did you stay in Connecticut?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um, I stayed there just, I think, until New Year's or just before it, right after it.
MS. JOHNSON: Where did you go after Connecticut?
CASANDRA VENTURA: After Connecticut, I ended up going to see Sean in Arizona. He was visiting a college with his son.
MS. JOHNSON: Did you tell your family where you were going when you left?
CASANDRA VENTURA: No. I said I was going back to L.A. to get to work.
MS. JOHNSON: Why weren't you truthful with your family?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I did not want to disappoint them.
MS. JOHNSON: And, in your mind, what would have disappointed them?
CASANDRA VENTURA: In my mind, disappointing them would to be to go back -- would be to go back to the abuse and everything that had happened just days before that.
MS. JOHNSON: And when you refer to the things that happened just days before that, is that the kicking in the back and the other things we discussed?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Kicking in the back, yeah. Yeah, just all of that. Yeah.
MS. JOHNSON: Did there come a time after this when Sean mentioned Scott's car?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes. Um, he mentioned that when we were out of the country, that Scott's car would be blown up. He wanted his friends to be there to see it.
MS. JOHNSON: When you say he wanted his friends to be there to see it, who is he?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Sean wanted Scott's friends to be there to see the car get blown up in the driveway.
MS. JOHNSON: Did there come a time when you saw Scott again?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: Where did you see Scott next?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I saw him at the Soho House in Los Angeles. The three of us had a meeting.
MS. JOHNSON: Who is the three of us?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Me, Sean, and Scott.
MS. JOHNSON: What was the purpose of the meeting?
CASANDRA VENTURA: The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the relationship that we were no longer in. Yeah, and the only thing I remember from the end was Scott asking Sean --
MS. ESTEVAO: Objection, nonresponsive.
MS. JOHNSON: I'll ask another question.
THE COURT: OK.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, what do you recall happening at the end of the meeting?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Scott said, What about my vehicle? And Sean said, What vehicle? And that was the end of the meeting.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Gavin, can you please pull up for identification Government Exhibit 9N-101 and 9N-102.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, do you recognize what's depicted in Government Exhibit 9N-101?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: What's that?
CASANDRA VENTURA: That's me and Sean with our friends in Kingston, Jamaica, at Sound Clash.
MS. JOHNSON: And approximately what year were you in Jamaica with Sean for Sound Clash?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I'm not positive, but I want to say around '13, '14. I'm not 100 percent, though.
MS. JOHNSON: Directing your attention to the image on the right, what is the image on the right?
CASANDRA VENTURA: The image on the right is a zoomed-in photo of my eyebrow and forehead bruise and swollen.
MS. JOHNSON: Are these fair and accurate images from you being in Jamaica at or around 2013 or 2014?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: The government offers Government Exhibit Exhibits 9N-101 and 9N-102.
MS. ESTEVAO: No objection.
THE COURT: They will be admitted.
(Government's Exhibits 9N-101 and 9N-102 received in evidence)
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Gavin, can you please publish these exhibits for the jury.
BY MS. JOHNSON:
MS. JOHNSON: Directing your attention to the photograph on the right, Government Exhibit 9N-102, can you describe what injury this photograph depicts?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um, it looks, to me, like a black eye.
MS. JOHNSON: What, if anything, do you recall about getting a black eye in Jamaica?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I recall getting a black eye. I don't remember exactly the whole story leading up. I know that Kerry Morgan and I hid underneath a tractor for several hours just trying to hide. I don't remember the exact, how I got the injury. I know I was hit, but I don't know.
MS. ESTEVAO: Objection.
THE COURT: Overruled.
MS. JOHNSON: Who were you and Kerry Morgan hiding from?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Sean.
MS. JOHNSON: And who gave you the black eye?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Sean.
MS. JOHNSON: You can take those down now, Ms. Gavin.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, I'm pulling up for identification Government Exhibit 3Q-104. Do you recognize who's depicted in this photo?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes. That's me in Sean's bathroom on Mapleton.
MS. JOHNSON: And what is the date of the photo?
CASANDRA VENTURA: September 18, 2015.
MS. JOHNSON: Is that a true and accurate photograph of you on September 18, 2015?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yep.
MS. JOHNSON: The government offers Government Exhibit 3Q-104.
THE COURT: Any objections?
MS. ESTEVAO: No objection.
THE COURT: It will be admitted.
(Government's Exhibit 3Q-104 received in evidence)
BY MS. JOHNSON:
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, can you explain to the jury why you were in Sean's house on September 18, 2015?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I was staying there to recover from a weekend in Las Vegas where I got a black eye and some bruising.
MS. JOHNSON: What happened in Las Vegas?
CASANDRA VENTURA: In Vegas, Sean was hosting a party. And after the party, there was an after-party in our suite. And the bedroom was adjoining with the living room. I was talking to a manager, and Sean tapped me and told me to come in the next room. And he beat me up in that room, in the adjoining room.
MS. JOHNSON: What specifically did Sean do to beat you up in the adjoining room?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um, I mean, he punched me, kicked me. I was trying to run away and I made it into the bathroom. I just remember going into, like, where the actual toilet was in the stall and trying to close and lock the door. Um, and then I ended up just underneath the toilet, just trying to cover myself while he was kicking me. I ran out to the bath -- like, it was a big bathroom -- just trying to get away from him screaming.
MS. JOHNSON: How did this incident end?
CASANDRA VENTURA: It ended when security and management came in the room finally.
MS. JOHNSON: Who from security came in the room?
CASANDRA VENTURA: D Rock.
MS. JOHNSON: And who from management came from the room?
CASANDRA VENTURA: James Cruz.
MS. JOHNSON: How did D Rock react when he saw you?
CASANDRA VENTURA: When D Rock saw me, he started to cry. They both kind of teared up.
MS. JOHNSON: What, if any, visible injuries did you have?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I had black eyes, golf ball-sized knot on my forehead, busted-up lip.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura --
MS. JOHNSON: I'm sorry, Ms. Gavin, can you take down this exhibit and please pull up for identification Government Exhibit B-609.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, do you recognize this chat?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. Who are the participants?
CASANDRA VENTURA: That's me and D Rock, I believe.
MS. JOHNSON: Is this a fair and accurate message thread between you and D Rock?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: The government offers Government Exhibit B-609.
MS. ESTEVAO: No objection.
THE COURT: It will be admitted.
(Government's Exhibit B-609 received in evidence)
MS. JOHNSON: And, Ms. Ventura, looking at the first blue message at the bottom of the page --
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Gavin, would you mind blowing that up. Thank you.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, what's the date of this message?
CASANDRA VENTURA: September 14, 2015.
MS. JOHNSON: And what is it from?
CASANDRA VENTURA: D Rock.
MS. JOHNSON: Who is it sent to?
MS. JOHNSON: What does it say?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Where you at? It's time to ice your face.
MS. JOHNSON: Why would you have needed to ice your face on September 14, 2015?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Because I had just gotten beat up in Las Vegas.
MS. JOHNSON: And besides ice, was there anything else that you used to apply to injuries that you had after physical assaults?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I would use eyes. I always had, like, Arnica gel for bruising with me, things like that.
MS. JOHNSON: You can take that down now Ms. Gavin.
MS. JOHNSON: You testified earlier that after Las Vegas, you were staying in Sean's home in Los Angeles, right?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Correct.
MS. JOHNSON: Why was that?
CASANDRA VENTURA: He offered his house. And he said, Stay here for a few days to, essentially, recover. And I had, um, some friends over for a few days.
MS. JOHNSON: Besides your friends, who else, if anyone, was in the home?
CASANDRA VENTURA: One of his sons.
MS. JOHNSON: What communications, if any, did you have with Sean while you were staying in his house in September 2015?
CASANDRA VENTURA: We exchanged messages and FaceTimes.
MS. JOHNSON: What comments, if any, did Sean make about your injuries?
CASANDRA VENTURA: He would just tell me, like, his son couldn't see me like that, and that I should go put more makeup on. So that's what I did.
MS. JOHNSON: When he said, My son can't see you like that, what did you understand him to be referring to?
CASANDRA VENTURA: He can't see the bruises on your face.
MS. JOHNSON: How long were you staying in Sean's home in September 2015?
CASANDRA VENTURA: It was a little less than a week, I think.
MS. JOHNSON: Before we move on to another topic, Ms. Ventura, are the occasions we just spoke about all the times that Sean was physical with you?
MS. JOHNSON: Just to be clear, all the times he was physical with you during your approximately 11-year relationship?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Those weren't all the times, no.
MS. JOHNSON: We just spoke about some of the times?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Some of the times, yeah.
MS. JOHNSON: And were there any other injuries that you had as a result of physical abuse that we haven't discussed?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I don't think so.
MS. JOHNSON: Besides yourself, have you seen Sean be physical with other people?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: Which other people?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Um, I saw him be violent with assistants, I saw him punch somebody in the head, drag an assistant out of her bed. Um, yeah.
MS. JOHNSON: Who did you see Sean punch in the head?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Eli.
MS. JOHNSON: And what did you observe on that occasion?
CASANDRA VENTURA: We were in Miami going to -- or from a club, and we were in the back seat and he punched Eli in the back of the head.
MS. JOHNSON: When you say he, who is he?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Sean.
MS. JOHNSON: You also mentioned that you saw Sean dragging an assistant. Who did you see Sean drag?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Mia.
MS. JOHNSON: Where were you?
CASANDRA VENTURA: We were on a trip to Turks and Caicos.
MS. JOHNSON: What happened in Turks and Caicos?
CASANDRA VENTURA: From what I remember, we were hanging out all day, smoking, partying on the beach. And there came a time where Sean went to Mia's room. I think she was, maybe, like, falling asleep or something. I'm not sure. And he tried to grab her phone, and she tried to hold onto it, and he dragged her out of her bed and out of the room on to, like, the deck outside of her room.
MS. JOHNSON: Did anything else happen on that trip to Turks and Caicos?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I believe there was a freak-off on that trip.
MS. JOHNSON: Who else, if anyone, did you see Sean assault?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I can't think of anybody right now.
MS. JOHNSON: Well, I'm going to show you a photograph.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Gavin, can you please pull up Government Exhibit 2A-407 for identification.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, do you recognize the individual depicted?
MS. ESTEVAO: Objection to the leading nature of the order of the questioning.
THE COURT: It's overruled.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, do you recognize the individual depicted in Government Exhibit 2A-407?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yeah, it's my friend Bona.
MS. JOHNSON: How do you recognize Bona?
CASANDRA VENTURA: A friend. I've known her for some years.
MS. JOHNSON: Is this a fair and accurate photo of Bona?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yes.
MS. JOHNSON: The government offers Government Exhibit 2A-407.
MS. ESTEVAO: No objection.
THE COURT: It will be admitted.
(Government's Exhibit 2A-407 received in evidence)
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Gavin, can you please publish to the jury.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, what, if anything, did you see Sean do to Bona?
MS. ESTEVAO: Objection, leading.
THE COURT: I think that needs to be rephrased.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, what floor did you live on at 875 Comstock?
MS. JOHNSON: What kind of -- how was the apartment set up?
CASANDRA VENTURA: It was one level. I had a one bedroom, kitchen, balcony overlooking a golf course.
MS. JOHNSON: Were there any occasions where your friends stayed over?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Yeah, all the time.
MS. JOHNSON: Which of your friends would stay over at your place at 875 Comstock?
CASANDRA VENTURA: Bona, Kerry, Dao.
MS. JOHNSON: OK. What, if anything, do you recall about Bona staying over at your apartment?
CASANDRA VENTURA: There was an incident where I was asleep in my room. And when I came out, Sean was holding her and threw her onto the patio furniture.
MS. JOHNSON: Where was Sean when he was holding her, when he was holding Bona?
CASANDRA VENTURA: They were out on the balcony.
MS. JOHNSON: And approximately what time of day was this?
CASANDRA VENTURA: This was, like, early morning hours.
MS. JOHNSON: And what did you see Sean do to Bona?
MS. ESTEVAO: Objection, asked and answered.
THE COURT: It's overruled.
CASANDRA VENTURA: What did I see?
MS. JOHNSON: Yes. What did you see?
CASANDRA VENTURA: I saw him bring her back over the railing of the balcony and then throw her onto the patio furniture.
MS. JOHNSON: Ms. Ventura, prior to this trial, what conversations, if any, have you had with Bona this incident?
MS. ESTEVAO: Objection.
THE COURT: Let's have a very brief sidebar.
(Continued on next page)
(At the sidebar)
THE COURT: Ms. Johnson, just briefly, where are we going?
MS. JOHNSON: Your Honor, it's not being -- I'm not eliciting this for its truth. I am offering this to explain, on impeachment that I expect that the defense will do on cross-examination, because the witness, Ms. Ventura, spoke to Bona after her complaint, after Ms. Ventura's civil complaint was filed, about this allegation that was in the complaint. And during that conversation, Ms. Ventura realized she had recalled the incident in the balcony occurring at the wrong date after this conversation. So I wanted to draw this on direct so that it is not before the jury at the first time on cross-examination.
THE COURT: That objection is sustained. I mean, you can pick it up on rebuttal if you need to.
(Continued on next page)