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(NewsNation) — The Sean “Diddy” Combs federal sex crimes trial will resume Tuesday after the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Judge Arun Subramanian urged jurors to avoid media coverage of the trial over the long weekend.
Who testifies next in Diddy trial?
The prosecution is expected to call Combs’ former personal assistant, Capricorn Clark, as well as unidentified witnesses from the Los Angeles Police Department and from the Los Angeles Fire Department to testify next week.
Clark will be called Tuesday. She was Combs’ former assistant and a global director for his clothing brand.
Who is Capricorn Clark?
Clark’s private Instagram page bio reads, “Nothing to see here. Everything not saved will be lost,” along with “Tell the truth. Shame the devil.”
Kid Cudi testified that Clark informed him that the hip-hop mogul was at his Hollywood Hills home when he and Ventura were at a West Hollywood hotel.
Cudi said on the stand that Clark told him, “Sean Combs and an affiliate were in my house, and she was in a car, and she was forced to go with them over there.”
Upon returning to his Los Angeles residence, the rapper recalled finding his dog locked up in the bathroom and Christmas gifts for his family opened.
Suge Knight claimed Diddy beat Capricorn Clark
Suge Knight said Combs assaulted his former assistant for allegedly hiding that Ventura was dating Cudi.
Knight said in 2023, after allegations against Combs began to surface, that “Cap was keeping it on the low if she (Cassie) was seeing Cudi or not. Puffy beat the s–t out of that b—h. Not only did he beat the s–t out of her, but it was also a Interscope person, an Interscope check that paid her to settle so he (Diddy) wouldn’t go to jail.”
After the incarcerated Knight made those claims, Clark reportedly posted a cryptic message on her Instagram page that read, “Black women end up being the sacrifice for the (expletive). Last 11 years of my life I had to deal with EVERYONES nonsensical allegiance to the devil. I pray that ends. I don’t think highly of any of you. Can’t keep your head down + pretend (expletive) is cool no more. Do better.”
What to expect in the rest of Diddy’s trial
An attorney, Arick Fudali, partner at The Bloom Firm, represents two Combs accusers, Dawn Richard, formerly of pop group Danity Kane, and a man identified as “John Doe” in civil cases. Richard testified in the trial, telling the jury she witnessed the embattled rapper beat Ventura with a skillet.
“He came downstairs asking where his phone was, and he threw her to the ground,” Richard said on the stand, adding that Combs “proceeded to hit her on the head and beat her on the ground in front of us.”
Fudali told NewsNation on Friday that he “continues to be proud of Ms. Richard’s courage in testifying in front of Mr. Combs in court last week and found Kid Cudi’s testimonial allegations to be an interesting demonstration for the Government in their attempt to further their theme of Mr. Combs’ alleged violent retaliation against those that cross him.”
The lawyer added that “I expect the government to continue to call more witnesses and present more evidence to attempt to corroborate and emphasize Mr. Combs’ alleged violence and tie the violence to the allegations of sex trafficking and racketeering.
“I expect the defense to continue to attempt to undermine those witnesses and evidence.”
There is no court Friday due to the prosecution’s witnesses not being ready to testify.
Prior to the court’s recess, Combs’ attorneys alerted the court that they would like to have more time for videoconferencing with their client.
One lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, for the defense, said that the team had run out of minutes. The defense counsel is seeking to extend from 300 to 500 minutes per month. Prosecutor Maurene Comey said she would see what is possible per Subramanian’s request.
Combs has been charged with criminal federal racketeering and sex trafficking. He has pleaded not guilty.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
