'He would smash me in my head, drag me, kick me if I was down'

Former lover tells sex-trafficking trial of Combs' 'violence'

- By Christopher Bucktin US Editor

SEAN “Diddy” Combs’s former girlfriend told his sex-trafficking trial the hip-hop mogul would stamp on her head during abuse that lasted years.

In harrowing evidence at the New York City court yesterday, Cassie Ventura said she suffered repeated violence at the hands of the singer during their 10-year relationship.

Combs' mother Janice was among family members in the public gallery as heavily pregnant Ms Ventura, 38, told the jury: "He would smash me in my head, knock me over, drag me, kick me, stomp me in the head if I was down."

Asked how often it occurred, she replied: "Too frequently.'

Combs, 55, denies charges including a racketeering conspiracy, sex traffick-ing and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted, he could face up to life in prison.

Prosecutor Emily Johnson told the jury Combs paid a $100,000 bribe to ensure surveillance video footage of him attacking Ms Ventura at Los Angeles' InterContinental Hotel in 2016 would never surface.

Manipulated

However, the clip was eventually obtained and published by CNN in 2023, Ms Johnson said.

Ms Ventura said the attack followed what Combs termed a “freak off” — a voyeuristic sexual encounter arranged at his request.