Diddy trial: Witness testifies Combs dangled her from a high-rise balcony – Nationwide
A graphic designer testified Wednesday that she was so traumatized after Sean “Diddy” Combs held her over a Seventeenth-floor condominium balcony that she typically screamed in her sleep afterward.
Bryana “Bana” Bongolan, 33, a pal of Combs’ former longtime girlfriend Cassie Ventura, mentioned the 2016 assault at Ventura’s Los Angeles condominium induced a bruise on the again of her leg, together with again and neck ache. It additionally left her emotionally scarred, she instructed the jury.
“I’ve night time terrors and paranoia and I’d scream in my sleep typically,” mentioned Bongolan, a artistic and advertising director who runs her personal artwork company.
Her testimony got here within the fourth week of proof presentation by prosecutors as they search to show that Combs oversaw a racketeering group composed of his workers and associates as he bodily and sexually abused ladies for twenty years.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not responsible to racketeering conspiracy, intercourse trafficking and different fees that, if convicted, might ship him to jail for 15 years to life.
Day 15
Bongolan is the newest girl to testify that the hip-hop mogul acted violently towards her and Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who already testified for 4 days concerning the abuse she incurred. Different witnesses described seeing him bodily abusing ladies.
Ventura testified that she noticed Combs carry considered one of her mates again over the railing of a balcony at her condominium within the early morning.
Ventura mentioned she was asleep in her room when she awoke to the episode.
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“I noticed him carry her again over the railing of the balcony after which throw her onto the patio furnishings,” Ventura testified.
When Bongolan recalled the assault, she mentioned Combs barged into Ventura’s condominium, lifted her up and put her on the rail. She mentioned she feared that she would plummet to her dying as she pushed again in opposition to Combs.
“I used to be scared to fall,” she mentioned. Combs was yelling at her all through the ordeal, Bongolan mentioned, estimating he held her over the railing for 10 to fifteen seconds.
She mentioned Combs then threw her onto balcony furnishings. Adrenaline helped her energy by means of the ordeal, Bongolan mentioned. She recalled getting up instantly after being thrown down.
Bongolan mentioned Ventura, who was sleeping within the bed room, then got here out and requested Combs: “Did you simply cling her over the balcony?” Instructed that Bongolan’s ex-girlfriend was additionally within the condominium, Combs swiftly left, Bongolan mentioned.
Bongolan mentioned she has lasting results from Combs assaulting her.
“I’ve nightmares and I’ve loads of paranoia and I used to scream lots in my sleep, however it’s dissipated a bit of bit,” she testified.
A part of her paranoia, she mentioned, contains opening doorways rigorously and peeking into rooms earlier than going inside, and he or she added that she had a nightmare as not too long ago as a number of days in the past.
Bongolan mentioned Combs gave her medication on three or 4 events, together with ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine and G, a substance she understood was the depressant GHB.
She mentioned she additionally did medication about as soon as per week with Ventura when Combs wasn’t round.
Bongolan, testifying in response to a subpoena from prosecutors, was granted immunity after she initially mentioned she would refuse to reply questions and invoke her Fifth Modification proper in opposition to self-incrimination. She was not less than the third witness given immunity to testify.
What Combs is on trial for
U.S. prosecutors allege that for 20 years, behind the scenes, Combs was coercing and abusing ladies with assist from a community of associates who helped silence victims by means of blackmail and violence.
Combs faces an indictment that features descriptions of “freak-offs,” that are outlined within the court docket doc as “elaborate and produced intercourse performances that Combs organized, directed, masturbated throughout, and infrequently electronically recorded.”
Quite a few witnesses have come ahead to accuse Combs of terrorizing individuals into silence by choking, hitting, kicking and dragging them, in response to prosecutors. One indictment alleges that Combs dangled somebody from a balcony.
Though dozens of women and men have alleged in lawsuits that Combs abused them, this trial will spotlight the claims of 4 ladies.
Combs is charged with intercourse trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to have interaction in prostitution. He has denied all the costs in opposition to him and has rejected a plea deal, selecting to go to trial as an alternative.
If discovered responsible within the New York court docket, he might face life in jail.
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World Information can be protecting the Diddy trial in its entirety. Please examine again for updates.
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