As the federal trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs resumes today, prosecutors plan to present testimony from Eddie Garcia, who previously invoked his Fifth Amendment rights and was granted immunity.
What to expect from Day 15 of the Diddy trial
Garcia is expected to be followed by a video forensics expert, depending on the court’s scheduling. Another witness, referred to as “Jane,” may also be called ahead of travel commitments, subject to court logistics.
The testimony is expected to shift the case’s focus from the allegations of abuse to technical evidence and possible corroborating accounts.
The court continues to manage evidentiary disputes, including disagreements over the admissibility of video footage and other materials submitted by the defense.
What the court has heard thus far
Day 14 concluded the extended cross-examination and re-direct of Mia, a former assistant to Combs who has alleged multiple incidents of workplace abuse and sexual assault.
Defence attorney Brian Steel focused heavily on inconsistencies in Mia’s timeline and communications, particularly post-employment messages she sent to Combs that were affectionate or non-confrontational.
Mia acknowledged sending messages such as “I love you” and “Sending you all the love in the world,” but maintained that these were acts of psychological coping, not endorsements of past behaviour.
She testified that Combs’ public image and professional power left her feeling dependent and controlled.
When asked why she had not reported assaults sooner, Mia stated she was “brainwashed,” a term she used repeatedly to describe the influence Combs had over her.
Defence counsel attempted to introduce photographs from family and social events to challenge Mia’s claims that she was socially isolated, but the judge ruled these cumulative and not directly relevant.
The court also rejected attempts to admit other materials without proper foundation.
During re-direct, the prosecution worked to reframe Mia’s previous messages and behaviours as consistent with survival mechanisms under coercive control.
She testified that appearing supportive online or in private messages was a tactic to avoid verbal and physical retaliation.
Mia stated she was terrified of Combs and only felt safe when he was in a good mood.
The day ended with brief testimony from Sylvia Oken, director of sales and marketing at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Oken confirmed that Combs frequently booked rooms under aliases and that billing records linked these reservations to his American Express account.
She also testified about room damages, including a $500 charge for oil stains, and confirmed that Cassie Ventura was a listed guest in the reservations.
Diddy Trial: Live stream and updates
Due to the federal nature of this trial, no live stream or video broadcast is available.
Proceedings are taking place in the Southern District of New York, which prohibits courtroom recordings.
For real-time updates, Inner City Press provides detailed reporting from inside the courtroom, forming the basis of this coverage.
