CNN releases security footage of Diddy’s 2016 attack on Cassie, as trial kicks off

The criminal trial of music mogul Diddy has officially begun, with shocking allegations and revealing testimonies emerging on the first day. The case centers around a 2016 incident at a Los Angeles hotel involving Cassie, Diddy’s former partner.

The prosecution called its first witness, Los Angeles police officer Israel Florez, following opening statements, reports The New York Times. Florez, who was working as a security guard at the InterContinental Hotel during the incident, testified about security footage released earlier this year by CNN. The footage depicts Diddy assaulting Cassie in their hotel room.

A 2016 surveillance video obtained by CNN shows Sean “Diddy” Combs violently grab, shove, drag and kick his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura during an altercation in a hotel in California. https://t.co/qgD40mRPtQ pic.twitter.com/1u7qJgn3mC

— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) May 17, 2024

DIDDY AND CASSIE IN HOTEL TESTIMONY

Florez recounted responding to a call about a “woman in distress on the sixth floor.” Upon arrival, he saw Diddy sitting in a towel with a “devilish stare,” while Cassie was found in a corner wearing a hoodie amid shards of a shattered vase. Florez claimed that Diddy attempted to bribe him with cash to keep quiet about what he witnessed.

In addition to the widely circulated security footage, the jury was shown images of the aftermath—broken vase, splattered dirt on the wall—and a video recorded by Florez on his cellphone. Florez explained he chose not to call the police after Cassie declined to answer his questions and insisted she just wanted to leave.

DAY 1 OF TRIAL

Day 1 of the trial also involved selecting the jury, with 12 jurors and six alternates chosen. Both sides delivered their opening statements, with each presenting contrasting perspectives on the case involving Cassie.

Prosecutor Emily A. Johnson accused Diddy of physically assaulting Cassie repeatedly over the years and alleged that he once directed a male escort to urinate into her mouth during a disturbing “freak-off,” which Cassie reportedly felt as if she was choking.

50 CENT MOCKS DIDDY

Long time rival of Diddy, 50 Cent took no time to address the report of Diddy hiring a male escort to urinate into the mouth of his then girlfriend Cassie. He shared a photo of the Manneken Pis statue in Brussels, Belgium. “Diddy said in ya mouth! SMH LOL,” he captioned the picture.

 

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Diddy’s defense team countered by framing the case as a matter of love, jealousy, and money. They portrayed Cassie as a jealous partner in a toxic relationship and maintained Diddy’s innocence regarding the specific criminal allegations.

The trial continues to unfold, with more testimonies and evidence expected in the coming weeks.

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