NEED TO KNOW
- Cassie Ventura is eight months pregnant as she testifies in Diddy’s sex-crimes trial
- Her testimony entered its fourth day on Friday
- Combs’ defense team began their cross-examination on Thursday and are expected to continue today
Prosecutors in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial say their star witness Casandra “Cassie” Ventura’s cross-examination must wrap up by this week in order to avoid the risk of a mistrial.
Ventura, who is 8-and-a-half months pregnant, will be in court for the fourth day today as she testifies in the federal case against Combs on sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Prosecutors now accuse the defense of intentionally dragging out her testimony in the hopes that she goes into labor, which might trigger a mistrial.
Her cross-examination by Combs’ defense team began on Thursday, May 15, lasting the whole day, and is set to continue into Friday — which prosecutors say already affords the defense team “multiple hours” more than the time she testified for prosecution.
In a letter to judge Arun Subramanian, prosecutors claimed Combs’ defense team had the opportunity to begin their cross-examination on Wednesday, but instead requested to end the trial day early.
Later that evening, the defense produced 400 exhibits which “predictably and significantly delayed the proceedings” of cross-examination, the letter read.
Prosecutors say Combs should not be afforded the chance to drag Ventura’s cross-examination into next week, which could risk a mistrial if she goes into labor.
It would also allow Combs’ team extra days to prepare for cross-examination, if Ventura is made to return for cross-examination next week, prosecutors said.
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