NEW YORK -- Prosecutors are calling their final witnesses after presenting evidence for the last six weeks in the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs. They are expected rest their case on Monday (6/23).
Combs is charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and prostitution. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all counts. If convicted, he faces the possibility of life in prison.
Combs' lawyers argue that all the sexual acts were consensual, and that, although he could be violent, he never veered into sex trafficking and racketeering.
This story may contain accounts and descriptions of actual or alleged events that some readers may find disturbing.
"Bad Rap: The Case Against Diddy," a new podcast from "20/20" and ABC Audio, traces how the whispers of abuse came to light and led to the downfall of Sean "Diddy" Combs, who was once among the most influential entertainers and entrepreneurs in hip hop. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and more.
(ABC News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
The Sean Diddy Combs trial has been adjourned until Friday because of a sick juror.
"We have a sick juror," Judge Arun Subramanian announced after he took the bench Wednesday.
The juror has "vertigo symptoms," the judge said. "I don't think there's any way for us to proceed today."
Court was already scheduled to be off on Thursday for the Juneteenth holiday.
Judge Arun Subramanian closed the courtroom to discuss a potential issue with one of the jurors. He did not retake the bench so the issue for now remains unresolved, at least publicly.
The defense used the cross-examination of U.S. Attorney's Office Special Agent DeLeassa Penland to present messages in which they contend former Sean Combs girlfriend Cassie Ventura appears enthusiastic about "freak-off" sexual encounters or entices Combs with suggestive talk.
"I bought the sexiest outfits for later," one message from October 2012 said. "I've been really horny," a message a few months later said.
In another message, from December 2012, Ventura promised "I'll be the nastiest freak b****."
Ventura once texted Combs about a role-play game, according to the messages. "The game starts at 10 p.m. no texting after this," the message said. "I am not Cassie and you are not Sean."
The defense has argued that Ventura's participation in the sexual encounters that Combs desired was consensual and not coerced, as the prosecution claims. Ventura previously testified that she was an unwilling participant and was texting Combs what she knew he wanted to hear.
On re-direct examination, prosecutor Emily Johnson returned to the caught-on-camera attack on Ventura by Combs at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, showing the jury a message Combs sent to Ventura five days later, which read "Baby, I can't say it enough. I AM SO SORRY!!!!!"
The jury saw Ventura's response. "I still have crazy bruising from Friday," her reply message said. "Nothing good comes out of ("freak-offs") anymore. You treat me like Ike Turner."
Penland is off the witness stand.
Court has adjourned for the day. Testimony will resume Wednesday with former Combs associate Brendan Paul scheduled to take the stand.
With U.S. Attorney's Office Special Agent DaLeassa Penland under cross-examination, the defense played long excerpts of "freak-off" videos that were taken from former Sean Combs girlfriend Cassie Ventura's laptop.
Combs, jurors and lawyers donned headphones and video monitors in the gallery went dark as the videos were played. For a moment, some of the sound bled through before the courtroom made an adjustment.
It is not clear what the clips showed but they were longer than the brief excerpts the jury saw Monday during direct examination.
Defense attorney Teny Geragos has previously downplayed what's depicted on the videos.
"These videos, we believe, are powerful evidence that the sexual conduct in this case was consensual and not based on coercion," Geragos said during her opening statement.
