
Video expert, Cassie Ventura friend, alleged victim 'Jane' expected to testify
The jury in the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs is expected today to see more of the 2016 hotel surveillance footage that captured Combs physically assaulting his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, as video expert Frank Piazza takes the stand as the day's first witness.
The jury on Tuesday heard a hotel security guard testify that Combs allegedly paid him $100,000 in cash for the video.
The guard, Eddy Garcia, testified about Combs putting stacks of bills, $10,000 at a time, through a money counter. Combs also allegedly advising him "not to make any big purchases" and made him sign a nondisclosure agreement, Garcia told the court.
Garcia further testified that at the meeting, Combs put Ventura on FaceTime and she allegedly told Garcia that because she had a movie about to be released "it wasn't a good time" for the video to come out "and that she wanted it to go away."
The jury also saw a document that Garcia signed that affirmed to Combs that his was the only copy of the video. After the footage ended up on television last year, Combs apologized, calling his behavior "inexcusable."
Combs has conceded that he could be violent but his lawyers say he is no sex trafficker or racketeer, as federal prosecutors have charged. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Piazza's testimony is expected to be followed by that a friend of Ventura's, Bryana Bongolan, known as Bana, who has accused Combs of dangling her from a balcony at Ventura's Los Angeles apartment.
Ventura testified that Bongolan was allegedly draped over the balcony railing and then thrown onto balcony furniture. She made similar allegations in a civil case. Combs has denied Bongolan's claims.
The jury also could begin hearing later in the day from another alleged Combs victim who will be testifying under the pseudonym "Jane."