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Prosecutors today called four witnesses to the stand in an effort to paint a broader portrait of the supposed abusive behavior of Diddy and its complex relationship with their ex -girlfriend Cassie, who spent four exhausting days answering questions last week. The key moments of today’s testimony:
David JamesDiddy’s former personal assistant returned to the stand and testified that he resigned from his job after seeing the rapper to assemble him with three guns so that he possibly faces himself Suggest gentleman At a Los Angeles dinner in 2008. James said the episode «shook him» and that he began to feel that his life was in danger.
Regina VenturaDiddy’s ex -girlfriend said he felt «physically ill» after his daughter told him that he had threatened to release explicit videos because Cassie was dating the rapper Kid Cudi. Diddy wanted $ 20,000 in return, Cassie’s mother testified. He also told the jury that he took photos of bruises in his daughter.
Sharay HayesA male stripper nicknamed «The Punisher», testified about being hired for up to 12 «Freak offs» choreographed with Diddy and Cassie. Hayes, facing the interrogation of the defense lawyer Xavier DonaldsonHe agreed that Cassie did not seem to be in any «discomfort» during the marathon sexual encounters.
Gerard GannonA federal agent who planned the search in Diddy’s house in Miami last year, walked to the jurors through photos of evidence seized in the property, including Rifles AR-15, baby oil, lubricant and sex toys. The serial numbers in the weapons scratched, which made people make them track them, Gannon said.
The view from the inside
By Adam Reiss and Chloe Melas
Diddy, with a blue sweater on a white shirt, lay in his seat and occasionally passed notes to his lawyers as a witness after the witness took the position today to describe his supposed pattern of abuse and propensity to violence. At a remarkable moment, Diddy began to laugh while James said he had ecstasy.
Regina Ventura looked like in her relatively short time in the stand, answering questions naturally without any obvious show of emotion. Diddy’s defense team spent the opportunity to interrogate her, and shortly after she left the Palace of Justice with her husband, Rodrick Ventura.
In other news: The testimony of the day brought a moment of lightness to a courtroom that has recently been defined by graphic testimony and tense legal arguments. Marc agnifilo, One of Diddy’s lawyers told James that he had some «mundane questions» during the interrogation. «I like worldly questions,» James replied, causing laughter of the gallery.
Analysis: Why are escorts key to the case of the government?
By Danny Cevallos
Hayes, the exotic dancer, the old jury who never saw any violence during his sexual experiences with Ventura and Iddy. As for drugs, he said he only saw marijuana, and testified that he never saw Ventura intoxicated by illegal substances.
The escorts are the key to the prosecution of the Government’s Mann Law (counts 3 and 5), although the previous testimony has little to do with the elements that the Prosecutor’s Office must prove.
The Mann Law makes it illegal to know «to any individual in interstate or foreign trade … with the intention that such individual participates … any sexual activity by which anyone can be accused of a criminal offense.» Everything that the government must demonstrate that the intention is establishing that a dominant purpose, not the sole purpose, of the trip was to involve the individual in prostitution.
In other words, everything that the government really needs for a conviction of the Mann Law is a escort to testify (1) «I am a sex worker»; (2) «combs made me come from another state»; and (3) «He paid me for sex.» That’s all.
The Prosecutor’s Office does not need drugs, baby oil or even violence for a conviction for the Mann Law. In fact, none of the crimes loaded has baby oil as an element: it is only that the government is very, very good to find evidence that the jury cannot forget. He has introduced much of that kind of evidence so far.
What follows?
Tomorrow: Gannon is expected to return to the stand to obtain more testimony about the search for Diddy’s property in Miami. This week is also expected: Scott Mescudibetter known as Kid Cudi.
PSA: Every night during Diddy’s trial, «Datelline» of NBC will release special episodes of the «True Crime Weekly» podcast to catch up. «Datelline» correspondent Andrea Canning Chats with NBC News’ Chloe Melas and special guests: just in front of the court. Listen here.
