Witness: Dawn Richard

Dawn Richard’s Testimony in Sean 'Diddy' Combs’ Sex Trafficking and Racketeering Trial: Days 5 and 6 Highlights On May 16 and May 19, 2025, during Days 5 and 6 of Sean 'Diddy' Combs’ federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan, Dawn Richard, a former member of the musical group Danity Kane, testified at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse in New York. Richard, who also performed with Combs in the group Diddy – Dirty Money, provided a firsthand account of Combs’ alleged abusive behavior toward his then-girlfriend Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura, aiming to support the prosecution’s narrative that Combs ran a criminal enterprise involving coercion and violence. Her testimony, spanning two days, detailed specific incidents of violence, threats, and drug use, though it faced scrutiny from the defense for inconsistencies. Background and Role in the Trial Dawn Richard, a 41-year-old singer, joined Danity Kane through Combs’ MTV reality show 'Making the Band 3' in 2004, signing to his Bad Boy Records label. The group disbanded in 2009, after which Richard briefly formed the trio Diddy – Dirty Money with Combs and Kalenna Harper until 2011. In September 2024, Richard filed a lawsuit against Combs, alleging misconduct including inappropriate touching and threats during her time under his management. She was called as a prosecution witness to corroborate Ventura’s allegations of physical and emotional abuse by Combs during their 11-year relationship from 2007 to 2018. Ventura had testified the previous week about being coerced into 'freak-offs'—drug-fueled sexual encounters—and enduring years of violence. Richard’s testimony followed Ventura’s and preceded that of Kerry Morgan and David James on May 19, aiming to illustrate Combs’ alleged pattern of abuse and intimidation, key to the charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Key Points of Dawn Richard’s Testimony 1. Witnessing the 2009 Skillet Incident Richard began her testimony on May 16, describing a violent incident she witnessed in 2009 at Combs’ Los Angeles home while they were recording music. She told the jury that Combs, enraged and demanding food, attacked Ventura with a skillet. 'He came down the stairs screaming, belligerent, asking where his food was and proceeded to hit her over the head and beat her on the ground in front of us,' Richard testified, pointing to Combs in the courtroom to identify him. She clarified that Combs attempted to hit Ventura with the skillet while she was making eggs, though on cross-examination, the defense highlighted that Richard initially said she only heard the incident, not saw it, suggesting inconsistencies in her recollection. The next day, Combs called Richard and others who witnessed the assault into the studio, gave them flowers, and warned that their careers would be harmed if they reported it, a detail Richard shared to illustrate Combs’ alleged use of intimidation to silence witnesses. 2. Frequent Violence Against Ventura On May 19, Richard continued her testimony, stating she 'frequently' saw Combs physically abuse Ventura over the years. 'He would punch her, choke her, drag her, slap her in the mouth,' she said, adding that she saw him 'kick her, punch her in the stomach.' Richard testified that after the 2009 incident, she urged Ventura to leave Combs, but Ventura’s fear and dependency on him—Combs controlled her career and apartment—kept her in the relationship. When Combs learned of these conversations, he warned Richard to stay out of their relationship 'or else we would pay for it.' Richard interpreted this as a death threat, especially when Combs added that he came from a place where people 'go missing,' a statement she said made her fear for her life. She pointed to Ventura’s courage in coming forward as her reason for speaking out now, though the defense objected to this response, and Judge Arun Subramanian sustained the objection. 3. Observations of Combs’ Drug Use Richard also testified about Combs’ drug use, stating she 'often' saw him taking substances like marijuana, ketamine, cocaine, and MDMA (molly). On May 19, she told the jury she witnessed Combs sharing these drugs with others, supporting the prosecution’s claim that drugs were integral to the 'freak-offs' where victims were allegedly coerced. However, during cross-examination, the defense challenged her on this point, noting she had previously told prosecutors she hadn’t seen Combs use drugs, highlighting a discrepancy in her accounts. Richard explained that her memory had evolved over time, stating, 'I think as time progresses I get better at knowing what went on because it was quite a long time ago.' 4. Threats and Career Control Richard detailed Combs’ control over her career, testifying that she left Bad Boy Records in 2011 after Diddy – Dirty Money disbanded. She had asked Combs to sign her as a solo artist that year, which he denied, and as recently as 2020 or 2021, she sought to work with him again, hoping to revive her career. Richard told the jury that whenever her career gained momentum, Combs or his associates would contact her relentlessly via FaceTime until she answered, a pattern she described as intimidating. The defense used this to suggest Richard might harbor resentment, asking, 'You felt like Mr. Combs ruined your career not once, but twice?' Richard did not directly confirm this but acknowledged her career struggles post-Bad Boy. 5. Cross-Examination by the Defense On May 19, defense attorney Nicole Westmoreland conducted a pointed cross-examination, aiming to undermine Richard’s credibility by highlighting inconsistencies. Westmoreland asked why Richard didn’t mention guns in eight meetings with prosecutors, to which Richard replied, 'It wasn’t asked,' though she had testified about seeing Combs with weapons. The defense also pressed on the skillet incident, noting Richard’s initial statement to prosecutors that she only heard the event, not saw it, and questioned her drug use claims, given her prior denial to prosecutors. 'We can agree your testimony has changed on quite a few things?' Westmoreland asked, to which Richard responded that her memory had clarified over time. The defense suggested Richard’s allegations might be motivated by career setbacks, framing her as a potentially biased witness due to her history with Combs. Legal and Trial Context Richard’s testimony followed Ventura’s four-day account of abuse and preceded Morgan’s testimony about witnessing Combs’ violence and James’ description of Combs’ controlling behavior as his assistant. The prosecution used Richard to illustrate Combs’ alleged pattern of violence and coercion, supporting their racketeering charge by showing how he silenced witnesses through threats. The defense, led by Marc Agnifilo, sought to portray Richard’s testimony as unreliable, arguing that domestic violence, while serious, does not equate to sex trafficking or racketeering. Criminal defense attorney David Gelman, speaking to Sky News, echoed this, stating, 'None of these things that have been said so far amount to any federal charges, which is what Diddy is facing,' reflecting a sentiment also seen in some posts on X. Implications and Next Steps Richard’s testimony provided compelling evidence of Combs’ alleged violence and intimidation, particularly her account of the 2009 skillet incident and his threats, aligning with Ventura’s narrative of coercion. However, the defense’s cross-examination highlighted inconsistencies, potentially weakening her credibility with the jury. As the trial continues, upcoming testimony from witnesses like Kid Cudi, expected to address Combs’ jealousy, and a male hotel employee, who may provide further context on the 'freak-off' settings, will likely build on Richard’s account. The jury will need to weigh these conflicting narratives to determine if Combs’ actions constituted a criminal enterprise, a core issue in the case.

Compiled from news sources and summarized by Grok.

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