ALL eyes are on the sex trafficking trial of disgraced hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs as the first day in court is underway.
The first witness in the trial, LAPD Officer Israel Florez, has taken the stand in the US Courthouse in Manhattan to testify against the rapper.
Florez was a security guard at the Los Angeles hotel where Combs was captured on video beating his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, in a hallway in 2016.
Combs, 55, faces five criminal counts, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Prosecutors allege Combs orchestrated drug-fueled sex parties he called freak-offs, where he is said to have forced women to participate in sexual activity with male escorts.
He has pleaded not guilty and appeared stone-faced as the trial began with prosecutors painting him as the ringleader of a criminal enterprise during opening statements.
Explosive opening statements began after the jury, consisting of eight men and four women, was selected on Monday.
Prosecutors warned jurors to brace themselves to hear disturbing details of the alleged freak-offs throughout the trial during opening statements in the US Courthouse in Manhattan.
In one horrific instance, Combs allegedly forced a male escort to pee into Cassie’s mouth, causing her to feel like she was “choking,” prosecutors said.
Videos of the freak-offs are set to be shown during the trial, along with the haunting 2016 video. Four of Combs’ alleged victims are set to take the stand.
Combs has denied all allegations against him and argued through his lawyers that he has only participated in consensual sex between adults.
Read our Diddy trial updates blog for the latest updates from court…
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
