On the first day of Diddy’s trial, jurors have watched a video showing him assaulting his former long-time partner, the singer Cassie. The prosecution’s first witness, a former hotel security guard, says he was called on the night the CCTV video was filmed to help a "woman in distress", where he found Cassie sitting in the corner covering her face.Both the prosecution and defence gave their opening statements. The prosecution say Combs' behaviour was "coercive and criminal" and that he "had the power to ruin" his alleged victims’ lives. The defence argues that while Diddy might have engaged in domestic violence, he is innocent of the sex trafficking and prostitution charges at the heart of this case.Warning: This episode contains descriptions of violence, sexual violence and graphic descriptions of sex.Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is accused of sex trafficking, racketeering with conspiracy and transportation for prostitution. He denies the charges. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty speaks to the BBC’s New York correspondent Nada Tawfik about the day in court.The Diddy on Trial podcast is here to investigate the rumours, confront the theories, and give you the answers that you need. We also want YOU to be part of the conversation. Have you any burning questions about the cases or the upcoming trial? Heard a theory that doesn’t sit right with you? Get in touch now via WhatsApp: 0330 123 555 1.Presenter: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series Producer: Laura Jones Executive Producer: Neal Razzell Sound Design: Mark Burrows Senior Digital Producer: Matthew Pintus Video Producer: Daniel Raza Production Coordinator: Hattie Valentine Editor: Clare Fordham Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Commissioning Assistant Producer: Rechmial Miller
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BBC Sounds.
Music, radio, podcasts. Hello and welcome to Diddy on Trial from BBC Sounds with me, Anushka Matanda-Dowdy. Make sure you subscribe and turn on your push notifications so you never miss a thing. Just a warning, this episode contains descriptions of violence, sexual violence and graphic descriptions of sex.
Sean Diddy Combs is accused of sex trafficking, transportation for prostitution, and racketeering with conspiracy. He denies all the charges and says he's never sexually assaulted anyone, man or woman, adult or minor. If found guilty, he could end up spending the rest of his life behind bars. I've been catching up with the BBC's New York correspondent, Neda Tawfiq, throughout the day.
We've had jury selection finalised and that group of 12 people have already heard from two witnesses, one security guard and one male sex worker. We also got opening statements from both sides. I caught up with Neda straight after those first arguments.
Yeah, it was interesting because they started off with this dramatic flare pointing right to Sean Diddy Combs and painting him really as, you know, this larger than life icon. But saying that behind that there was another side to him, one where he used his celebrity, his power, really his entire business to force victims into unconsensual sex.
And they started off by painting the picture of one night where they said he was essentially in a rage. He was on the hunt for his girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie. And they say he kind of got wind that she was going to be with another man. And he went to one of his employees, grabbed them out of bed, forced them to go with a security guard in their SUV to the man's home.
broke in, and when they found they weren't there, went off again to look for Cassie. And they depict how when he finally found Cassie, that he brutally beat her, flung her around like a rag doll.
And they used that one night to paint the picture of what they say happened over 20 years, not just to Cassie, but to another woman named Jane, who they say the jury will hear from, and also an employee named Mia that they say the jury will hear from. And they say he was somebody who referred to himself as a king and expected to be treated like one, had impossible demands.
So really setting the tone of the kind of character they want them to see. really graphic testimony just about how this was not a case about celebrity sexual preferences, that this was about coercion and control. They say that Cassie, that only one person had power in that relationship, and it was Diddy, not her.
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