Witness: Regina Ventura

Regina Ventura’s Testimony in Sean 'Diddy' Combs’ Sex Trafficking and Racketeering Trial: Day 7 Highlights On May 20, 2025, during Day 7 of Sean 'Diddy' Combs’ federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan, Regina Ventura, the mother of Combs’ former girlfriend Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura, testified at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse in New York. Her testimony, delivered in the late morning following the appearances of former assistant David James and exotic dancer Sharay Hayes, provided an emotional perspective on the alleged abuse Cassie endured during her 11-year relationship with Combs. Regina’s account aimed to support the prosecution’s narrative that Combs exerted coercive control over Cassie, a key element of the sex trafficking and racketeering charges. Background and Role in the Trial Regina Ventura, a 63-year-old retired schoolteacher from Connecticut, took the stand as a prosecution witness to corroborate her daughter’s allegations of physical and emotional abuse by Combs. Cassie, a key witness who testified the previous week, described years of coercion into drug-fueled 'freak-offs,' physical beatings, and psychological control by Combs, spanning their relationship from 2007 to 2018. Regina’s testimony focused on her observations of Cassie’s deteriorating well-being, specific incidents of alleged abuse, and Combs’ financial demands, which prosecutors argue illustrate his pattern of control and intimidation. Her testimony followed Hayes’ account of participating in 'freak-offs' with the couple and preceded Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Gerard Gannon’s description of the 2024 Miami mansion raid. The prosecution, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey, used Regina’s testimony to highlight the impact of Combs’ alleged actions on Cassie’s family and to establish the racketeering charge by showing how Combs leveraged his influence over Cassie’s life. Key Points of Regina Ventura’s Testimony 1. Observations of Cassie’s Decline and Isolation Regina began her testimony by describing the stark change in her relationship with Cassie after she started dating Combs in 2007. She told the jury that visits with her daughter became 'less frequent' as Combs’ influence grew, a pattern she attributed to his control over Cassie’s life. 'I used to see my daughter every week,' Regina said, her voice trembling. 'But once she was with Sean, it was like she disappeared.' She recalled how Cassie, once a vibrant and independent young woman, became increasingly withdrawn, often appearing anxious or distracted during their rare meetings. Regina testified that she began to suspect something was wrong but felt powerless to intervene, as Cassie rarely opened up about her relationship. 2. Documenting Physical Abuse A pivotal moment in Regina’s testimony came when she described noticing bruises on Cassie’s body in late 2011, which Cassie confided were caused by Combs. Regina told the jury she was 'physically sick' upon seeing the marks on her daughter’s arms and face, prompting her to take photos to document the alleged abuse. 'I wanted to have a record,' she said, explaining that she feared for Cassie’s safety and felt the need to preserve evidence in case her daughter ever decided to take action. Regina identified these photos in a binder presented by prosecutors, confirming they were the ones she took. The photos, which were not shown to the public gallery, were described by prosecutors as showing visible bruising consistent with Cassie’s earlier testimony about being beaten by Combs after he learned of her brief relationship with rapper Scott 'Kid Cudi' Mescudi. 3. Combs’ Demand for $20,000 Regina testified about a disturbing incident in December 2011, shortly after the alleged beating, when Combs demanded $20,000 from her and her husband. She recounted how Cassie called her in distress, saying Combs had threatened to release sexually explicit 'freak-off' videos of her and target both her and Kid Cudi if the money wasn’t paid. Combs claimed the payment was to 'recoup losses' he incurred supporting Cassie’s career, a claim Regina found outrageous but terrifying given his threats. 'I was scared for my daughter’s safety,' Regina told the court, explaining that she and her husband took out a home equity loan to gather the funds. She wired the money to an account provided by Combs, but days later, it was returned without explanation. Prosecutors argued this incident demonstrated Combs’ use of blackmail and financial coercion, key elements of the racketeering and sex trafficking charges. 4. Confrontation Over Cassie’s Phone Regina also described a heated confrontation with Combs outside Cassie’s apartment in 2015, after Cassie told her mother that Combs had taken her phone. Determined to retrieve it, Regina drove to the apartment and confronted Combs in the street. She testified that she argued bitterly with him, even attempting to hit him in frustration, but was unsuccessful. 'I just wanted to protect my daughter,' she said, her voice breaking. Eventually, Combs returned the phone but took Cassie’s car as he left, an act Regina interpreted as a further display of control. She called the police during the incident, though no immediate action was taken. This episode, prosecutors argued, illustrated Combs’ pattern of isolating Cassie by controlling her communication and mobility, reinforcing their claim of coercive control. 5. Cross-Examination by the Defense In a surprising move, the defense, led by attorney Marc Agnifilo, chose not to cross-examine Regina Ventura, allowing her testimony to stand uncontested. 'I do not have any questions for you,' Agnifilo told her after a brief pause, a decision that left legal analysts puzzled. Some speculated that the defense avoided cross-examination to prevent further emotional testimony that might sway the jury, especially given Regina’s sympathetic demeanor as a concerned mother. Her account of documenting bruises, paying Combs under duress, and confronting him directly painted a damning picture of his alleged behavior, and the defense may have calculated that challenging her could backfire. Legal and Trial Context Regina Ventura’s testimony followed David James’ account of Combs’ controlling behavior and Sharay Hayes’ description of participating in 'freak-offs,' where he perceived Cassie as a willing participant. It preceded Gerard Gannon’s testimony about the Miami raid, which uncovered drugs, weapons, and sex-related items linked to the 'freak-offs.' The prosecution used Regina’s testimony to bolster their argument that Combs ran a racketeering enterprise that facilitated sex trafficking through coercion, with Cassie as a primary victim. The defense’s decision not to cross-examine Regina left her claims unchallenged, potentially strengthening the prosecution’s case, though their broader strategy continued to frame Cassie’s participation as consensual and Combs’ actions as personal flaws rather than criminal acts. Implications and Next Steps Regina Ventura’s testimony added a deeply personal dimension to the trial, humanizing Cassie’s experience and highlighting the familial toll of Combs’ alleged abuse. Her uncontested account of documenting bruises and paying Combs under threat of blackmail provided compelling evidence of coercion, supporting the prosecution’s narrative. However, the defense’s lack of cross-examination may reflect a strategic choice to focus on other witnesses, like upcoming testimony from Kid Cudi, who is expected to address Combs’ alleged jealousy and threats, or a male hotel employee who may provide further context on the 'freak-off' settings. As the trial continues, the jury will need to weigh Regina’s emotional testimony against the defense’s portrayal of Combs’ relationships as consensual, a tension that remains central to the case.

Compiled from news sources and summarized by Grok.

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