Singer testifies Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs threatened her with death after she saw him beat his girlfriend

NEW YORK AP The Sean Diddy Combs sex trafficking trial resumed Monday when a singer testified that the hip-hop mogul threatened to kill her if she communicated anyone that she saw him beat his longtime girlfriend Dawn Richard reported a jury in Manhattan federal court that Combs issued the threat the day after she witnessed the Bad Boy Records founder try to hit Cassie with a skillet and then beat her She declared he explained her and another woman who saw the attack that we could go missing if either revealed what they saw Assistant U S Attorney Mitzi Steiner appealed Richard what she took we could go missing to mean That we could die Richard responded saying she was shocked because all of this happened just as she was beginning to record with Diddy Dirty Money a musical trio she formed with Combs and another R B singer Combs is on trial in New York on sex trafficking and racketeering charges alleging that he exploited his status as an entertainment power broker to abuse women including Cassie through threats and violence He has pleaded not guilty and his lawyers have argued that prosecutors compiled proof of domestic violence but not federal crimes In four days on the witness stand last week Cassie testified that she desired a loving relationship with Combs during their nearly years together but was instead subjected to weekly drug-fueled freak-offs with male sex workers that left her too exhausted and damaged to pursue her music career Shortly after Cassie finished testifying on Friday Richard began her stint on the stand saying she witnessed Combs attack Cassie on multiple occasions including during a visit to Combs home recording studio in when Richard noted she and another woman saw Combs hit Cassie on the head and beat her on the ground She declared Combs tried to hit Cassie over the head with a skillet but Cassie was able to deflect it On Monday Steiner appealed Richard how frequently she witnessed Combs beat his girlfriend Frequently Richard stated He would punch her choke her drag her slap her in the mouth I saw him kick her punch her in the stomach Richard declared that on other occasions she saw Combs punch Cassie in the face with a closed fist and that she saw him punch her in the stomach during an argument at a restaurant Cassie used makeup clothing and sunglasses to cover up injuries which included bruising on her face eyes lip arms and knees Richard noted Richard testified that the beatings sometimes occurred when Cassie spoke up for herself if she had an opinion about something At other times she announced it could be random We wouldn t even know where it came from Richard who also performed in the group Danity Kane announced Combs staff including his bodyguards also witnessed violence They wouldn t react They wouldn t do anything Richard testified