The defense showed Combs's ex-girlfriend texts where she appeared to be a willing participant in drug-fueled sex acts. She testified that in the early days of their relationship she wanted to make him happy, but later feared his anger if she said no. Ventura also admitted to jealousy over other women Combs was dating during their 11 years together, but said Combs's jealous rage turned into violence, such as when he found out she was dating musician and actor Kid Cudi. Allegedly he kicked her in the back and later blew up Kid Cudi's car.If you want to read NBC's coverage of the trial, check out our newsletter, “Diddy On Trial”: NBCNews.com/Diddy
Full Episode
This is On Trial, a special series from Dateline True Crime Weekly, bringing you daily coverage from the Sean Combs trial. I'm Andrea Canning. Today is May 15th. In this episode, we're going to be talking about some graphic details and harrowing subject matter. Sean Combs is facing five charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking. He's pleaded not guilty to all of them.
Today, the defense began its cross-examination of Cassie Ventura, Combs' ex-girlfriend, and the centerpiece of the prosecution's case against him. During a grueling day on the witness stand, they confronted Cassie with her own texts and emails, some of them explicit, challenging the portrait she painted of Combs, the abuser and predator.
Instead, the defense presented a love story for the jury that they say might have been toxic but was not criminal. Tensions are high at the federal courthouse, and NBC News correspondent Chloe Malas was inside.
Chloe, it's been quite a day. It has. And one of the reasons, Andrea, is because Ventura is about to give birth and they want cross-examination to wrap up as soon as possible because they think that she could go into labor this weekend.
How did she do being cross-examined? I mean, this day could not have been easy for her.
It has not. She is reserved. We haven't seen her crying like the days before. She's been very soft-spoken, sometimes giving one-word answers, but she's being cooperative. And I have to say that Combs' defense attorney, who is leading the cross-examination, is being very respectful, even at one point calling her charming and beautiful.
One of the defense attorney's first questions to Cassie was, you and Sean Combs were in love for 11 years. I hear a lot of activity in the background.
There are a lot of characters down here. There are all sorts of people, some that support Ventura, some that support Combs, and others who just have something to say that might not even have to do with the trial, as you just heard a moment ago. It's something that happens all day.
OK, so back to the question at hand, Chloe, one of the defense attorney's first questions to Cassie was you and Sean Combs were in love for 11 years. What point are they trying to make?
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