In Sean Combs trial, Child Cudi testifies as witness to threats and violence : NPR

The musician Scott Mescudi, who information as Child Cudi, took the witness stand within the trial of Sean Combs on Thursday morning. Mescudi informed the courtroom about his temporary relationship with Cassie Ventura, the star witness within the authorities’s intercourse trafficking and racketeering case towards Combs. He additionally detailed two incidents — a break-in at his home and a hearth set to his automobile — that occurred across the identical time.

Mescudi, clad in blue denims and a leather-based jacket, testified that in 2010, Combs — the hip-hop mogul who ran Ventura’s label and was courting her on the time — requested him to report a couple of songs along with her. Mescudi stated he and Ventura began working collectively as associates, however quickly developed emotions for one another. Round November 2011, Ventura allegedly confided in Mescudi that Combs was bodily abusive and so they have been not collectively.

Final week, Ventura testified concerning the violence and sexual coercion she says marked her decade-long, on-and-off relationship with Combs, which lasted from about 2007 till 2018. Ventura’s testimony was stuffed with graphic particulars and descriptions of the drug-fueled sexual encounters with male escorts that she says have been choreographed by Combs. On the stand, Ventura repeatedly stated she participated within the sexual performances as a result of she was scared to say no to Combs, who allegedly exerted outsized management over her private {and professional} life. Combs’ protection attorneys have steered Ventura was a keen participant of their consumer’s “unconventional intercourse life.” Combs, who settled an earlier civil lawsuit with Ventura for $20 million, has pleaded not responsible to all the costs towards him on this federal prison trial.

On Thursday morning, Mescudi informed the courtroom that Ventura stated Combs would hit and kick her, however didn’t make any point out of sexual abuse to him once they dated.

An alleged break-in 

Mescudi testified that within the early hours of the morning in December of 2011, he obtained a cellphone name from a “scared” Ventura. She informed him Combs had came upon about their relationship and requested Mescudi to select her up. Combs had allegedly obtained Mescudi’s house deal with from Ventura, and she or he feared he would go to her new boyfriend’s home. The rapper and actor informed the courtroom that he was confused as a result of he believed Ventura was not “coping with [Combs],” however he picked her up and took her to a resort.

Mescudi testified that on the resort, he obtained a cellphone name from Combs’ worker and Ventura’s good friend, Capricorn Clark, who informed him Combs and an affiliate had bodily pressured her right into a automobile and pushed to Mescudi’s house. Clark allegedly informed Mescudi she was calling from the automobile, and Combs was at the moment contained in the rapper’s house. Mescudi informed the courtroom he rushed to his home, and referred to as Combs on the drive. Combs allegedly informed Mescudi they wanted to speak, and when Mescudi responded that he was on his means house, Combs stated he was ready for him.

Mescudi testified that when he arrived, there was nobody at his residence. Throughout cross-examination from protection legal professional Brian Metal, Mescudi informed the courtroom he had left his entrance door unlocked and there have been no indicators of pressured entry or any damages to his house. Nonetheless, Mescudi stated he found unwrapped vacation presents on his kitchen counter and located his canine locked within the rest room, which isn’t the place he had left him.

Mescudi referred to as the police and filed a report concerning the break-in. He testified that he spent Christmas with Ventura’s household in Connecticut and Combs reached out to him a number of instances, to which he responded: “You broke into my home. You messed with my canine. I do not wish to speak to you.”

Automotive arson 

Mescudi testified that he and Ventura ended their relationship shortly after the 2011 holidays. He stated he was involved for his security if he continued seeing the singer. “I knew Sean Combs was violent,” he stated.

In January of 2012, Mescudi informed the courtroom he obtained a name from his canine sitter alerting him that his Porsche was on fireplace within the driveway. When he arrived house, the rapper stated, he discovered the burnt stays of a molotov cocktail sitting subsequent to his scorched automobile, which was broken past restore. Police responded to the scene.

Throughout Mescudi’s testimony, prosecutors confirmed a number of pictures of the automobile. A gap had been lower into its roof to presumably insert the burning bottle. The crimson leather-based lining of the motive force’s seat and door had been charred and blackened by smoke. Throughout cross-examination, protection legal professional Brian Metal confirmed with Mescudi that though DNA was taken from the scene, nobody was ever charged with setting his automobile on fireplace.

Nonetheless, Mescudi informed the courtroom he believed Combs had one thing to do with the incident. “After the hearth I used to be like, ‘That is getting out of hand,” Mescudi stated. He arrange a gathering with Combs at SoHo Home in Los Angeles. When he arrived, Mescudi stated he discovered Combs alone in a convention room. “Sean Combs was standing there together with his fingers behind his again like a Marvel supervillain,” Mescudi informed the courtroom.

The 2 musicians mentioned their respective relationships with Ventura, who later joined them. Throughout cross-examination, Mescudi stated Combs maintained a peaceful demeanor all through the dialog and there was mutual confusion concerning the overlapping timelines of their relationships with Ventura.

“Each of you guys have been performed, true?” Brian Metal requested. “True,” Mescudi answered.

Mescudi testified that on the finish of the assembly with Combs, the 2 males shook fingers and he seized the chance to ask Combs concerning the burnt automobile. Combs allegedly answered, “I do not know what you are speaking about.”

Mescudi informed the courtroom he believed Combs was mendacity. He testified that he didn’t see Ventura once more after that, however a couple of years later, Combs pulled him apart and apologized “for every little thing.”