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Key Witnesses Take the Stand in Sean Combs sex Trafficking Trial
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NEW YORK – The sex trafficking and racketeering trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs continues into its fourth week with testimony expected from a friend of Cassie Ventura and another alleged victim. Bryana “Bana” Bongolan, a friend of Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassie ventura, is expected to testify Wednesday that Combs dangled her over a 17th-story balcony. Another alleged victim, known as “Jane,” is also slated to testify under a pseudonym.
An alleged victim will take the stand under the pseudonym “Jane.” (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images … More
Getty Images for MRC
Key Developments in the Combs Trial
- Frank Piazza, a forensic video expert, is expected to testify about surveillance footage of Combs attacking Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel in 2016.
- Bryana “Bana” Bongolan is expected to testify that Combs dangled her over a balcony at Ventura’s apartment in 2016 and slammed her onto a table, allegations she previously made in a lawsuit.
- ventura testified last month that she witnessed Combs attack Bongolan.
- An alleged sex trafficking victim, referred to as “Victim-2” in the indictment, will testify under the pseudonym “Jane.”
- “Jane’s” testimony follows that of another unnamed victim, “Mia,” who testified that Combs sexually assaulted her multiple times.
- Prosecutors have described Jane as a central witness in their case against Combs, alongside Ventura.
Bongolan’s Allegations Against Combs
In a November 2024 lawsuit, Bongolan alleged that Combs woke her up by banging on the door and shouting at Ventura’s Los Angeles apartment in 2016. According to the lawsuit, combs lifted her by her underarms and held her over Ventura’s 17th-floor balcony, stating, “Do you know what the f- you did? Do you know what the f- you did?” Bongolan’s lawsuit states, “The only purpose of dangling someone over a balcony is to actually kill them or to intentionally terrorize them and rob them of any concept of dominion over their own bodily autonomy and safety.” Bongolan also alleged she witnessed “disturbing signs of an abusive relationship” by Combs toward Ventura, including seeing Ventura with visible bruises and an altercation in which Combs “threw a large kitchen knife at Ms. Ventura, who, acting in self-defense, threw one back at him.” Combs has denied the allegations in Bongolan’s suit.
Who is “Jane?”
“Jane” is the pseudonym for a woman prosecutors allege was sex trafficked by Combs and is referred to as “Victim-2” in the indictment.Ventura,referred to as “Victim-1,” and “Mia,” the pseudonym of “Victim-4,” have already testified. The indictment alleges Combs used “force, threats of force, and coercion, to cause victims,” including Jane, “to engage in commercial sex acts.” Prosecutor emily A. Johnson stated that Jane began dating Combs in 2020, two years after Ventura left him.Johnson described Jane participating in a “freak-off” and an altercation in which Combs became enraged at Jane after they clashed about him seeing another woman,during which he allegedly “grabbed her in a chokehold,lifted her off the ground by her neck and kicked her to the ground,” the New York Times reported. Combs’ defense lawyer teny Geragos said that Jane consented to their sexual encounters, stating a “capable, strong woman, willingly engaged in their relationship,” which she said is “not sex trafficking,” the Times reported.
Other Key Witnesses
Ventura, who dated Combs on-and-off for about a decade, testified for much of the trial’s first week, alleging Combs coerced her into “freak-off” sexual encounters with male escorts and described instances of physical abuse, accusing Combs of raping her in 2018. Rapper Kid Cudi testified that Combs broke into his house and that his car was firebombed in his driveway in 2012 after Combs discovered he was dating Ventura. Mia, a former personal assistant to Combs, testified that Combs repeatedly sexually assaulted her and subjected her to physical abuse while she worked for him.
The Charges Against Diddy
Combs is charged with two counts of sex trafficking,two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution,and one count of racketeering conspiracy. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Combs also faces numerous civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault and sex trafficking, all of which he has denied.
