Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial: Special agent back on the stand

Sex worker was in New York around time of music awards and key ceremony

Following more explicit clips, jurors are shown flight and hotel records for a sex worker mentioned throughout the trial.

His travel journeys appear to have been paid for by Sean "Diddy" Combs.

Prosecutors show the sex worker stayed at the Trump International Hotel & Tower in New York in September 2023 after arriving on a flight from Atlanta to Newark, New Jersey.

This was paid for on Combs's American Express card, the court hears.

In the same month, Combs appeared at the MTV Video Music Awards in New Jersey, where he was honoured with the "global icon" award.

He was also handed the key to New York city at a ceremony in Times Square.

50 explicit video files made in just a few days before Christmas 2021, court hears

Federal agents discovered 50 explicit video files in Sean "Diddy" Combs's possession that were created in just a few days, the court hears.

Special agent Joseph Cerciello says they were created from 17 to 21 December 2021, which is when the rapper was seeing alleged victim Jane.

The jury is shown two of these video files.

Diddy looks around the courtroom in Manhattan as the footage plays, rather than at the screen in front of him, which is showing the graphic material.

Jurors shown more explicit videos

Homeland Security Investigations special agent Joseph Cerciello has been asked about text messages sent by Sean "Diddy" Combs. 

In one text, the rapper's chief of staff Kristina Khorram planned his stay at a hotel in Las Vegas, where it appears he was planning a "freak off" or "hotel night" - a sex session involving a male escort.

Khorram text him to say she had a room at the Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas.

Jurors were then shown what appeared to be "freak-off" videos involving Combs's former girlfriend, Jane - an alleged victim who testified under a pseudonym earlier in the trial.

They were given headsets and focused on screens to watch the footage, which was kept private from others in the courtroom.

Court in session

Today's hearing is under way - day 28 of the trial.

Special agent Joseph Cerciello is back on the stand, answering questions from prosecutor Maurene Comey.

Comey has told Judge Arun Subramanian that the agent's testimony will likely take all day, meaning the prosecution may not rest its case until tomorrow now.

Last week, attorneys for the prosecution said they were hoping to finish their case by the end of today.

Who is testifying today?

Joseph Cerciello, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations, will return to to the witness stand under direct examination after beginning his testimony on Friday.

He will likely be on the stand for the entire day, with prosecutors expected to rest their case following his evidence.

Cerciello was not involved in the investigation into Sean "Diddy" Combs but has reviewed evidence relating to travel details, hotel bookings and payments for the trial.

Combs's defence lawyers are expected begin their case tomorrow and could continue into Wednesday.

However, they said last week that their case would be short - which means it is looking very unlikely that the rapper himself will testify, and closing arguments could happen as early as Thursday.

This is the beginning of week seven and the trial was originally scheduled for eight weeks.

A reminder of the charges - and potential sentence

Sean "Diddy" Combs is facing five criminal counts.

• Racketeering conspiracy
• Two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion
• Two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution

The 55-year-old has strenuously and consistently denied the allegations against him, and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Among the witnesses who have given evidence during the trial are three alleged victims - Combs's former long-term partner Cassie Ventura, another former partner who testified under the pseudonym Jane, and a former employee who testified under the pseudonym Mia.

Racketeering conspiracy carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, the US Attorney's Office said when the first charges were announced in September 2024.

The sex trafficking charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, while the transportation for purposes of prostitution charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. 

Welcome back to our live coverage of the Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial

Good afternoon. We're back with updates at the start of week seven of the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs in Manhattan, New York.

The case is now drawing to a close and prosecutors are expected to rest their case against the hip-hop mogul today.

Last week, Combs's team said they would need around two days to present the case for the defence. We should know more by the end of today, but if the hearing sticks to this timeline then closing arguments could take place on Thursday.

He has strenuously and consistently denied the allegations against him, and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

That's all for our coverage today - the trial resumes on Monday afternoon UK time.

Court adjourned - as legal teams give timeframe for next week

Today's session has finished early as a juror has their son's graduation ceremony to attend.

Judge Arun Subramanian thanked jurors and wished them a "great weekend", before reminding them not to discuss the case with anyone or read anything about it.

Discussing the timeframe afterwards, attorney Maurene Comey says the prosecution hopes to rest its case on Monday.

Defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo says they will take the weekend to confirm the time needed for their case, but expects it will be short - and that they should rest on Tuesday or Wednesday.

This means the court could hear closing arguments on Thursday, the judge says, before adjourning for the week.

With such a short amount of time planned for the defence, it seems unlikely Sean Combs himself will testify. Testimony by two of his former girlfriends, Cassie Ventura and 'Jane', who used a pseudonym, took two of the trial's six weeks so far.

We'll be back shortly with a round-up of evidence heard today.

Diddy billed for thousands of dollars worth of hotels damage, court hears

Special agent Joseph Cerciello is now telling jurors about reported incidents of damage at hotels.

Several witnesses during the trial, including hotel workers, former employees and alleged victims, have testified about rooms being left in a state after sex sessions involving male escorts.

Sean "Diddy" Combs checked out of a resort in Bal Harbour, Florida, with a $6,000 bill for damages in December 2021, according to records shown in court.

In January 2023, after a stay at the London Hotel in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, there was a bill for $7,577.24, including $3,750 for damage, the court hears.

Another report about the same hotel, from April 2023, shows a bill of $5,654.46 which included damage to furniture.

A security incident report said linens were "soaked in baby oil" and there was oil found on the carpet, as well as evidence of smoking in the room.

Special agent testifies about hotels and travel during Diddy's relationship with Jane

Back to special agent Joseph Cerciello's testimony now.

He reviewed data from 2021 to 2024, the court hears, which was when Sean "Diddy" Combs was seeing 'Jane', an alleged victim who gave evidence under a pseudonym earlier in the trial.

The chart shows locations, names and travel records related to the investigation.

Cerciello tells the court that, before the lawsuit against Combs filed by former partner Cassie Ventura in November 2023, the majority of the locations were listed as hotels. 

After the lawsuit was filed, there were no records of further hotel visits, he says.

For context, here is a timeline of the allegations against Combs and how this criminal case has unfolded.

'He was never a drug mule': Former assistant's lawyer issues statement after testimony

We have an update from outside court, from a lawyer for previous witness Brendan Paul.

During his evidence earlier today, Paul told the court he bought drugs for Sean "Diddy" Combs on a few occasions but said he was "absolutely not" a drugs mule.

He also told told the court he stopped working for Combs after being arrested with a small amount of cocaine belong to his boss at an airport in Miami in March 2024. Charges were later dropped, the court heard.

Paul was granted immunity for his testimony in this trial.

His lawyer has now issued a statement, our US partner NBC news reports, saying Paul's "testimony was crystal clear — he was never a 'drug mule' for Diddy or anyone else".

The statement continues: "He was subpoenaed to come to court and tell the truth, which he did — word for word. 

"Now that Brendan has finally had the opportunity to tell the full story about his employment, we are hopeful that the last 15 months of defamatory statements about him will cease."

-SKY NEWS