Cassie says Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ infidelity was hurtful as cross-examination begins

By MICHAEL R SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press NEW YORK AP R B singer Cassie explained Sean Diddy Combs infidelity was a painful part of their combustible nearly -year relationship as the music mogul s defense group began cross-examination of the prosecution s start witness on Thursday in his sex trafficking trial It was the third day on the stand for the -year-old Cassie after two days of questioning by prosecutors in a Manhattan courtroom She testified Wednesday that Combs raped her when she broke up with him in after he locked her into a life of physical abuse by threatening to release degrading sexual videos of her Prosecutors accuse Combs of exploiting his status as a powerful music executive and entrepreneur to violently force Cassie and other women to take part in sexual encounters He is charged with crimes including racketeering and sex trafficking by force fraud or coercion Several other accusers are set to testify Combs denies all of the accusations and has pleaded not guilty His attorneys acknowledge he could be violent but say the sex he and others engaged in was consensual and that nothing he did amounted to a criminal enterprise Defense attorney Anna Estevao began by questioning Cassie in a gentle tone of voice notable because so countless cross examinations begin with efforts to unsettle or agitate a witness Estevao s approach was the opposite FILE Cassie Ventura left and Sean Diddy Combs appear at The Metropolitan Museum of Art s Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating China Through the Looking Glass in New York on May Photo by Charles Sykes Invision AP File You and Sean Combs were in love for years You loved him and assumed that he loved you as well Estevao disclosed The attorney noted Cassie s love explained Why it hurt so badly when he lied When he cheated on you Cassie responded Yes to both Combs appeared relaxed as cross examination got underway sitting back in his chair with his legs crossed and conferring with his attorney Marc Agnifilo The first exhibits introduced by Estevao were messages between Combs and Cassie in the early years of their relationship In April Cassie communicated Combs Going to sleep now so it can be the following morning faster and you can be home Love you Combs replied Love my baby The testimony stood in contrast to the violence fear and disgusting sex acts Cassie testified about in her first days on the stand Early Thursday the judge denied a request by defense lawyers to introduce text communications between Combs and Cassie that would include references to specific sexual acts Defense lawyers have indicated that the cross examination will likely be finished by the end of Friday s court session Cassie has held up well over two days of direct questioning by prosecutors She cried several times but for the bulk part has remained composed and matter-of-fact as she talked about particular of the most of sensitive subjects imaginable in a courtroom packed with family and friends of Combs journalists and one row of spectator seats occupied by Cassie s supporters She is in the third trimester of pregnancy with her third child Cassie revealed Wednesday that Combs forced his way into her Los Angeles apartment and raped her on the living room floor after she announced she was ending their relationship Cassie also revealed she didn t feel she could refuse Combs demands for her to have hundreds of encounters with male sex workers which he watched and controlled for hours and even days because he would make her look like a slut if he made the videos citizens I feared for my career I feared for my family It s just embarrassing It s horrible and disgusting No one should do that to anyone stated Cassie whose legal name is Casandra Ventura The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly as Cassie has She sued Combs in accusing him of years of physical and sexual abuse Within hours the suit was settled for million a figure Cassie disclosed for the first time Wednesday but dozens of similar legal indicates followed from other women Combs has been jailed since September He faces at least years in prison if convicted The trial is expected to last about two months Associated Press journalists Julie Walker in New York and Dave Collins in Hartford Connecticut contributed to this analysis