Diddy trial live: Cassie Ventura’s mother and ‘Freak off’ escort known as ‘The Punisher’ expected to testify today

The start of David James’ testimony has been delayed slightly, with four jurors not arriving by 9 a.m.

Judge Arun Subramanian said there were possible “train problems.”

Proceedings were also delayed yesterday because a juror was running late.

Prosecutors have said that Regina Ventura’s testimony will focus on events that took place in December 2011 when her daughter, Cassie, returned to Connecticut and detailed Combs’ alleged threats and physical abuse, according to the Washington Post.

The elder Ventura may be probed about a $20,000 sum prosecutors say Combs demanded after Cassie began a relationship with rapper Kid Cudi.

The Post said the defense isn’t denying the hip-hop mogul demanded $20,000 from Cassie. Combs’ attorneys did, however, argue that the exchange isn’t relevant.

The mom did wire the money to Combs before it was returned shortly afterward.

The prosecution argues that the exchange indicates coercion and control that Combs exercised over Cassie during their relationship.

Sean “Diddy” Combs has arrived in court, where he sat at the defense table wearing a dark sweater over a white shirt, as his sex-trafficking and racketeering trial moves into its seventh day of testimony.

David James is expected to return to the witness stand later this morning after giving a teary testimony on Monday.

James, who was a personal assistant for Sean Combs between 2007 and 2009, told jurors that the 55-year-old rapper thought Cassie Ventura was “young” and “moldable” when they first met in the noughties.

“‘I’ve got [Ventura] right where I want her, she’s young,’” James alleged Combs told him. “He said she was very moldable.”

James also testified about grueling 20-hour workdays and his suggestion to Cassie Ventura to “get out” of her relationship with Combs, which ended after more than a decade in 2018.

He also alleged that one employee said that they were “all here to serve” Combs and his “kingdom,” while pointing up at a picture of the hip-hop mogul on the wall.

The witness detailed some of his duties for Combs, which he said included setting up environments to make his boss feel “comfortable” and have “a successful day.” That included hotel rooms with “unique” lists of supplies.

We’re expecting to hear more from James on Tuesday morning, particularly about an alleged altercation between Combs and his personal chef.

Casandra “Cassie” Ventura’s former best friend Kerry Morgan testified that she was assaulted by Combs in 2018. Afterward, Morgan said Ventura wasn’t supportive and ended her friendship with the singer.

“He came up behind me and choked me and left finger marks on my neck and hit me in the head with a wooden hanger,” Morgan testified. “Cassie was in the bathroom, it hit me behind my right ear.”

Morgan previously testified she witnessed Combs assaulting Ventura multiple times, adding that the music mogul controlled his then-girlfriend’s livelihood.

It’s pretty chilly in downtown Manhattan this morning. Some members of the public are posted up in foldable chairs at the front of the line. One has a sleeping bag and others have blankets.

David James, Combs’ former personal assistant, is expected to return to the stand this morning to testify about incidents related to forced labor allegations.

Dawn Richard testified about the “traumatizing” conditions that came with working for Sean Combs and his violent tendencies towards his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.

Richard, who was part of the Combs-founded girl group Danity Kane, told the jury that the rapper “would punch her (Ventura), choke her, drag her, slap her in the mouth.”

“I saw him kick her, punch her in the stomach,” she added.

Richard also recalled a 2009 incident, saying she witnessed Combs hit Ventura with a skillet. She testified that Ventura would hide her injuries with makeup.

At one point, Richard told the court that Combs previously told her he “owned” Ventura.

Richard says Combs told her to “stay the f*** out” of his relationship with Ventura or “something bad will happen to you.”

As Ventura allegedly waited for things to resolve, Richard told her she should leave.

“Cas looked torn,” she testified. “She would listen, but I could see the fear.”

Prosecutors are expected to call an escort known as “The Punisher” to the stand on Tuesday. But who are they?

During her testimony last week, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura identified more than a dozen male sex workers allegedly hired by her then-boyfriend Sean Combs for his “freak-offs” in Las Vegas, Miami and Los Angeles.

One of them, she said, was nicknamed “The Punisher.” Their real name is Sharay Hayes, according to The New York Times.

Hayes, an exotic dancer, is expected to testify after Combs’ former personal assistant David James on Tuesday.