Sean “Diddy” Combs’s ex-girlfriend who claims she was abused during the music mogul’s marathon sex sessions, known as “freak-offs,” is set to testify.
Thursday’s hearing at Manhattan federal court is expected to start later than usual at 11 a.m. and bring the long-awaited testimony of the alleged Combs sex-trafficking victim “Jane,” a pseudonym to protect her identity. Her testimony could last up to five days.
Jane is expected to take the stand after the defense wraps up its cross-examination of fashion designer Bryana “Bana” Bongolan, who told jurors Wednesday that she had been left traumatized after Combs dangled her over a 17th-story balcony of Cassie Ventura’s Los Angeles home.
The defense is set to wrap up Bongolan’s cross-examination this morning.
With the trial running behind schedule, the government said it is uncertain whether radio personality Enrique Santos – originally expected to testify after Bongolan – will still take the stand.
Combs is facing sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy charges. Combs was arrested in September 2024 as federal authorities alleged he threatened, abused, and coerced victims “to fulfill his sexual desires” between 2004 and 2024. Combs has denied any accusations of wrongdoing.
Defense continues to question balcony incident
Defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland is continuing to question Bryana Bongolan about the September 2016 balcony incident.
Yesterday, Bongolan testified that Sean “Diddy” Combs lifted her over a 17th-floor balcony.
Westmoreland sought to cast doubt on the story yesterday by asking Bongolan about inconsistencies in the statements she made during her meetings with prosecutors and her legal filings.
Westmoreland is continuing that strategy today, suggesting Bongolan has given inconsistent answers about whether Cassie Ventura witnessed the incident.
Defense shows jury pictures of drugs Bongolan sent to Cassie
Defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland showed the court texts and pictures that Bryana Bongolan sent to Cassie Ventura in spring 2016.
Bongolan said the pictures show drugs but she doesn’t recall what kind.
The texts came after Sean “Diddy” Combs allegedly threatened Bongolan at an April 2016 photoshoot.
“I’m the devil and I could kill you,” Combs allegedly said.
Court resumes
Bryana Bongolan, Cassie Ventura’s long-time friend, is back on the stand.
The defense is expected to finish their cross-examination this morning.
ICYMI: Diddy dangled Cassie Ventura’s friend off 17th-floor apartment balcony, jury told
Court is set to begin shortly.
Catch up Bryana Bongolan’s testimony from yesterday as the defense prepares to continue their cross-examination:
Who is Jane?
Like Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, “Jane” also dated Sean “Diddy” Combs, prosecutors say.
Also similar to Ventura, the government alleges that Jane was sex-trafficked by the 55-year-old rapper. Unlike Ventura, the witness’s identity is not set to be revealed (Jane is a pseudonym to protect her privacy).
Jane’s testimony is expected to last several days, with jurors due to hear about her involvement in Combs’s alleged drug-dazed marathon sex sessions with male prostitutes, known as “freak-offs.”
The government has described Jane as a single mother who began seeing Combs in 2020 before she agreed to partake in a freak-off to please him. She thought it was a “one-time, wild night,” prosecutor Emily Johnson said in opening statements.
Combs defense attorney Teny Geragos also described their “toxic and dysfunctional” relationship but argued that Jane was not forced nor coerced into the music mogul’s sexual fantasies, but “willingly engaged.”
Where did yesterday’s hearing leave off?
Defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland did a great job casting doubt around the balcony incident and whether it even happened, pointing out the inconsistencies in Bryana Bongolan’s legal demands, civil complaint, and meetings with the government, wrote reporter Kelly Rissman from the courthouse on Wednesday.
Bongolan, a friend of Cassie Ventura, said “I don’t remember” about a dozen times when asked about what she said previously.
We did, however, see photos of a large bruise on her leg as well as a photo of bandages covering her back and a neck brace from September 2016 — the same time she alleges the incident occurred.
Will radio personality Enrique Santos testify today?
Radio personality Enrique Santos was due to make a very brief appearance at the stand today after the defense finishes its cross-examination of Bryana Bongolan. He was supposed to serve the purpose of setting up testimony for “Jane”: the third (and potentially final) alleged victim of Sean Combs to testify.
However, with the trial running marginally behind schedule, the government said it is uncertain whether he will testify.
Hearing to start – and end – later today
Rather than its usual 9 a.m. start, Thursday’s testimony is expected to begin at 11 a.m. Proceedings are due to wrap at about 4 p.m., an hour later than the typical 3 p.m. finish.
In sketches: Day 16 of witness testimony in Diddy’s New York trial
Defense to wrap cross-examination of fashion designer Bryana Bongolan
Fashion designer Bryana “Bana” Bongolan, a friend of Cassie Ventura, is set to return to the stand this morning after delivering bombshell testimony Wednesday, alleging that she had been left having “night terrors” after Sean Combs held her over a 17-story balcony.
The defense is expected to continue its cross-examination of Bangolan this morning, which is expected to last about half an hour.
Source: independent.co.uk