Cassie Ventura tells Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial of alleged abuse

The singer Casandra "Cassie" Ventura took the stand yesterday in the high-profile federal trial of her former partner, Sean "Diddy" Combs.

- Anna Betts

Ventura, who is eight months pregnant and expected to testify against Combs for several days, was asked to describe her former relationship.

"There were violent arguments that would usually result in some sort of physical abuse. Dragging, different things of that nature," she said.

When asked how often Combs was violent with her during their relationship, Ventura said: "Too frequently."

In the trial's opening remarks in New York on Monday, prosecutors accused Combs of using threats, violence and coercion to force women into sex acts with male escorts at drug-fuelled parties that he orchestrated, known as "freak-offs".

Ventura was yesterday asked to describe the parties.