Discussions in the courtroom currently focus on adult entertainment establishments, in particular, the ones attended by Ms. Ventura along with Combs over the course of their decade-long relationship. These clubs, she maintains, are located in major cities, such as New York, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. It is Combs who was responsible for insisting on these excursions, according to Ventura, despite her vocal expressions of reluctance. Combs tried to alleviate her anxiety by adopting a ‘playful and amusing’ demeanor, and at other times, he attempted to ‘apply pressure and persuade her.’
The subject of ‘alternative intimate lifestyles’ comes up in court. Ventura describes Combs’ proposition about exchanging partners, calling it a source of arousal for him. With the intent of numbing her senses and escaping from reality, she admits to becoming heavily reliant on alcohol. Additionally, Ventura alleges that she experienced health issues such as gastrointestinal complications and frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Ventura recalls the troubling frequency of these ‘intimate encounters’ and states that they often occurred consecutively. Participating in such an encounter while suffering from a UTI, she says, was excruciating. Revealing her ordeal to the court, she expresses disbelief over her endurance through the discomfort caused by these regular incidents. ‘Engaging in intimate acts while having a UTI was agonising, remarkably unsettling,’ she narrates.
She reveals to the court that she also endured oral afflictions, which were a source of distress. The hearing then moves on to more text communications that took place between Sean Combs and Cassie Ventura. The timeline of these messages is set in January 2016. That evening, Ventura was planning to visit a club with her friends instead of participating in another intimate encounter as suggested by Combs.
On that occasion, she communicated to Combs that she was not interested in joining him, opting instead to accompany her friends. Despite this, she recounts that Combs’ incessant demands left her feeling helpless and defeated. According to Ventura, if Combs became agitated, he would mention their explicit video footage, a behavior she found particularly distressing.
Ventura comments on the humiliation and repugnant nature of such acts, utters, ‘The experience is degrading, revolting, and absolutely unacceptable. No one should be made to endure this sort of treatment.’ In her previous statement, she mentioned the lengthy duration of these intimate encounters with male escorts which were orchestrated by Combs, who seemed to derive pleasure from observing these interactions.
She recollects the chaotic environment associated with their regular encounters, noting, ‘There was an excessive amount happening, it was quite overwhelming.’ Furthermore, Ventura describes an unsettling scene of aggression unfolding outside her door, with ‘rampant knocking, shouting, and turbulence.’ When asked if she attempted to resist Combs at any point, she answers in the affirmative, primarily in the initial stages of their relationship.
In her earlier testimony, Ventura talked about trying to extricate herself from one of these intimate gatherings, only to run into Combs. Now, she brings up an incident in court where Combs allegedly threw a vase in her direction. ‘I vividly remember it flying towards me,’ she shares. ‘It came into contact with the wall.’
Her testimony continues as she explains how Combs hurled abuse at her, although she admits she cannot recount his actual words. Previously, she shared an incident where she was physically assaulted by Combs during one of the intimate get-togethers at their hotel. In the text exchanges that have been exhibited in court, Combs urges Ventura to ‘dial him immediately,’ repeating his request by informing her ‘the police are present.’
Ventura reiterates her earlier depiction of the chaotic circumstances, saying ‘There was an excessive amount happening, it was quite overwhelming.’ It was then communicated to the jury members that Combs had later visited Ventura at her apartment, which followed more violent behavior exhibited towards her.
Outlining an unsettling scene of aggression unfolding outside her apartment, Ventura describes ‘relentless knocking, vocal outrage, and violent disruptions.’ Regardless of all these charges raised by Ventura, Combs denies any wrongdoing. A video footage allegedly documenting an incident at the InterContinental Hotel is presented again in court.
The prosecutor, Emily Johnson, questions Ventura regarding the frequency of such violent incidents, asking ‘How often has he thrown objects at you in such a violent fashion?’ To which Ventura responds, ‘Too innumerable to keep track of.’