NEED TO KNOW
- A photo of a knife placed in a door handle by Casandra “Cassie” Ventura was submitted into evidence at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial
- Ventura previously testified about several instances of alleged abuse while on the stand
- Combs and Ventura were in a relationship for 11 years
Prosecutors submitted into evidence a photo of a knife Casandra “Cassie” Ventura said she placed in her door handle after receiving multiple unannounced visits from Sean “Diddy” Combs.
On her third day on the stand at Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial, Ventura, the government’s star witness, was asked about the photo of the knife — which has now been obtained by PEOPLE — and why she placed it in the door handle.
“I was getting a lot of unannounced visits from Sean where he was angry, and trying to kill two birds with one stone, to lock it and have a weapon,” Ventura told the court.
Ventura and Combs were in a tumultuous, on-and-off-again, 11-year relationship, during which she has alleged the Bad Boy Records founder abused her.
Ventura previously testified for four days during the first week of Combs’ trial at the federal courthouse in Manhattan.
On Wednesday, June 4, fashion designer Bryana Bongolan, a close friend of Ventura’s, testified another alleged incident involving Ventura, Combs and a knife.
Bongolan testified that in April 2016 Combs somehow entered Ventura’s apartment and threw a knife at the “Me & U” singer.
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When asked how Ventura responded, Bongolan said, “She threw the knife back.”
It is not clear if it is the same knife Ventura had put in the door handle.
Combs is charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty.
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