Trial against Sean “Diddy” Combs: Former girlfriend allegedly abused multiple times

In the globally publicized trial against Sean "Diddy" Combs, the US rapper's former girlfriend reported severe abuse. "He hit me on the head, threw me over, dragged me, kicked me, and stomped on my head when I was on the ground," Cassie Ventura said in court in New York about her relationship with the now 55-year-old. She repeatedly suffered bruises and other wounds all over her body – this was how several US media outlets consistently reported Ventura's statement.

The former girlfriend of the world-renowned musician and Grammy winner is one of the key witnesses in the trial. Prosecutors accuse Combs, who has been in custody since mid-September, of sex trafficking, organized crime, and other offenses.

These include serious acts of violence against Ventura, whom Combs also allegedly forced to have sex with male prostitutes in order to film them and use the footage to blackmail them. A video showing Combs punching and kicking Ventura in a hotel was initially published by CNN and caused outrage.

Combs also allegedly drugged women for days on end and forced them to have sex. He called himself a king "and expected to be treated as such," the prosecution said during opening statements in New York on Monday.

In addition to the indictment by the New York District Attorney's Office, there are also numerous civil lawsuits against the rapper. Among them, a law firm in Houston, Texas, says it represents around 120 people with allegations against Combs.

The singer, whose stage name is "Cassie," also described on Tuesday how she was repeatedly asked to perform sexual acts on Combs's orders. This involved having sex with other men in front of the musician. According to US media, the now 38-year-old took the witness stand with a clearly visible baby bump. Her husband was also in the courtroom.

The rapper has so far denied all charges and pleaded not guilty. His defense admitted in their opening statement that while their client had committed domestic violence against women, the sex trafficking allegations were not true. Combs faces a life sentence. The trial is estimated to last approximately eight weeks.

Combs ("I'll Be Missing You") became world famous in the 1990s and, under his pseudonyms Puff Daddy and Diddy, helped make rap an international phenomenon.