Marrakech – R&B singer Cassie, the former partner of hip-hop mogul P. Diddy, and a key witness in his sex trafficking trial, is expected to appear today at the federal court in New York for her fourth day of testimony.

During her first two days on the stand, Tuesday and Wednesday, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura recounted more than ten years of life under the control of the rapper and producer — an iconic figure in the American music industry for over three decades.

She gave a lengthy and often emotional account of the “freak-offs” at the center of the allegations — sexual marathons where she was made to offer her body, under the influence of drugs, to male sex workers to satisfy “Diddy’s” desires, while he filmed her.

Before the twelve jurors who will decide the fate of P. Diddy — who is appearing in court in custody, his hair turned grey — the 38-year-old singer has been questioned since Thursday by the defendant’s legal team. 

Sean Combs’ attorneys, using his real name, are trying to portray a different relationship: one that was romantic and toxic, filled with mutual cheating, jealousy, and violent episodes.

“You were incredibly jealous,” “you took a lot of drugs,” said one of the defense attorneys, Anna Estevao, in a very polite tone, amid dozens of questions.

Regarding the “freak-offs,” the defense aims to show that Cassie participated willingly in the sexual circus, even going so far as to plan the events herself. 

The lawyer cited several emails and text messages from the early 2010s to support this, diving into the most intimate details of their relationship.

Messages with a steamy or sexually explicit tone were read aloud to the jury. 

Cassie did not dispute them. The cross-examination is expected to continue on Friday.

Dozens of lawsuits

The 38-year-old singer is now on her fourth day of testimony while eight and a half months pregnant with her third child with her husband, fitness coach and actor Alex Fine.

Judge Arun Subramanian has instructed the defense not to extend their questioning beyond Friday.

On Wednesday, Cassie ended her testimony by stating that she entered rehab and began therapy in 2023 because she “had lost the will to live.” 

She explained in detail that she submitted to the “freak-offs” to avoid angering the rapper, who she claims regularly beat her.

The singer filed a high-profile civil lawsuit in the fall of 2023, accusing the East Coast hip-hop icon of rape in 2018 after their breakup. 

The case was settled the very next day. Cassie revealed that she received $20 million in compensation. Diddy—also known as Diddy or Puff Daddy — has been a major figure in hip-hop for three decades, building a fortune in music, fashion, and the alcohol industry, with Forbes estimating his net worth at over $700 million.

Embracing a flashy lifestyle, he was known for throwing extravagant parties that attracted the elite of the entertainment world. 

His trial is seen as a pivotal moment for the music industry, which has so far largely escaped the impact of the #MeToo movement.

The artist now faces several dozen civil lawsuits for sexual assault, filed by both women and men. Diddy is being tried in federal court for sex trafficking, transporting individuals for prostitution, and other charges including kidnapping, corruption, and assault, all grouped under the indictment of a criminal enterprise. He faces a possible life sentence.