Woman testifies Diddy dangled her from 17th story balcony: 'I have nightmares'
Woman says Diddy dangled her from 17th story balcony
A graphic designer testified at Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial that he once dangled her over a high-rise building's balcony in Los Angeles, leaving her so traumatized that she sometimes screamed in her sleep afterward. FOX 5 NY's Briella Tomassetti has the latest details.
NEW YORK CITY - Sean "Diddy" Combs, one of the most influential figures in music and business over the last three decades, is standing trial on sweeping federal charges.
Prosecutors allege Combs physically and sexually abused individuals for over a decade as the acting leader of a sordid empire.
- MORE: What's happened during the Diddy trial? Day-by-day recap
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Prosecutors also allege Combs used force and coercion to get victims to engage in what he called "Freak Offs," which were often recorded and could last days.
What happened on Wednesday?
What we know:
A former graphic designer for Diddy testified that he dangled her from a 17th-floor balcony while screaming profanities, leaving her so traumatized she still has night terrors nearly a decade later and would wake up screaming.
Who is Bryana Bongolan?
Bryana ‘Bana’ Bongolan, 33, a friend of Combs’ former girlfriend Cassie, told jurors that Combs lifted her over the railing for 10-15 seconds before pulling her back and throwing her onto patio furniture.
"I was scared to fall," Bongolan told jurors.
She said the September 2016 attack at Cassie’s Los Angeles apartment caused a bruise on her leg and pain to her back and neck. Jurors saw photos of her wearing a neck brace. Her bruise looked like it was the size of a softball.
"I have nightmares and I have a lot of paranoia and I used to scream a lot in my sleep, but it’s dissipated a little bit," Bongolan, a creative and marketing director at her own art agency, said.
Video expert says Cassie surveillance video was not altered
Jurors watched a video showing Cassie on a wall phone in an elevator lobby, with 10 seconds of missing footage. Piazza said the gap likely resulted from the motion-triggered camera not detecting enough movement to update the timestamp. FOX 5 NY's Lisa Evers has the latest.
Bongolan said her paranoia includes carefully opening doors and peeking into rooms before going inside. Her last nightmare was just a few days ago, she said.
Combs’ lawyers said Bongolan was a heavy drug user and suggested she may have been high during the alleged attack, which she denies. Bongolan has a pending lawsuit against Combs.
What's next:
Bongolan will be back on the stand, still under cross-examination. Another of Combs' alleged victims, a woman testifying under the pseudonym "Jane," is expected to take the stand on Thursday.
What is Diddy charged with?
The backstory:
Federal prosecutors have charged Combs with a series of crimes including:
- Count 1: Racketeering Conspiracy. Count One charges that, from at least in or about 2004 through in or about 2024, the defendant participated in a racketeering conspiracy during which he agreed with other employees and associates of his businesses to commit kidnapping, arson, bribery of a witness, obstruction of justice, drug distribution, forced labor, sex trafficking, and transportation for purposes of engaging in prostitution.
- Count 2: Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion. Count Two charges the defendant with sex trafficking an adult female victim through force, fraud, and coercion between ~2009 and ~2018.
- Count 3: Transportation to Engage in Prostitution. Count Three charges the defendant with transporting that female victim and male commercial sex workers to engage in prostitution between ~2009 and ~2018.
- Count 4: Sex trafficking. Count Four charges the defendant with sex trafficking a second adult female victim through force, fraud, and coercion between ~2021 and ~2024.
- Count 5: Transportation to Engage in Prostitution. Count Five charges the defendant with transporting that second female victim and male commercial sex workers to engage in prostitution between ~2021 and ~2024.
He also faces more than 60 lawsuits from alleged victims.
LAS VEGAS - SEPTEMBER 08: Dallas Austin, Singer Britney Spears, Rapper P. Diddy and Singer Cassie pose for photos at Cassie's 21st Birthday at Jet Nightclub at The Mirage Hotel and Casino on September 08, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Denise
Cassie says in a lawsuit that Combs subjected her to years of abuse, including beatings and rape. Cassie, whose legal name is Cassandra Ventura, signed to Combs' label in 2005, and the two were on-again-off-again romantic partners for more than a decade starting in 2007. The lawsuit filed in federal court says Combs was "prone to uncontrollable rage" and subjected her to "savage" beatings. It says he plied her with drugs, forced her to have sex with other men, and raped her in her home as she was trying to end the relationship in 2018. Combs, through his attorney, "vehemently denies" the accusations.
How many years does Diddy face?
If convicted, the 55-year-old Diddy could face 15 years to life in prison.
In documents obtained by FOX News Digital, Diddy’s defense team admitted the disgraced rapper committed "domestic violence" against a partner. Diddy’s strategy seems to be to "admit to what is a lesser, state crime to avoid federal prison."
When was Diddy arrested?
Diddy was arrested in Oct. 2024 at the Park Hyatt New York in Midtown Manhattan. He's been in jail ever since.