Judge Arun Subramanian has told attorneys he wants to have Cassie Ventura, the ex-girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs and one of his accusers, off the stand today — and that the defense should finish its cross-examination before lunch.
That’s because Ventura is heavily pregnant and, as prosecutor Maurene Comey put it, could have the baby as soon as “over the weekend.”
The defense says it’s working as quickly as it can through a slew of exhibits, including graphic text messages between Ventura and Combs. Attorney Marc Agnifilo said they’d do their best to finish cross-examination in time for lunch today, but that he couldn’t make any promises.
Subramanian has said that, given the prosecution got a day and a half for direct examination, the defense should also take a day and a half for cross-examination.
He noted that he technically has the authority to cut off cross-examination when it has matched the duration of the direct testimony, though he didn’t necessarily indicate he would do so. The judge left open the possibility of granting the defense additional time today after lunch, if needed.
Assistant US Attorney Emily Johnson has said she expects to need about an hour of redirect examination with Ventura today whenever the defense is finished.
Setting up the rest of the trial: Ventura’s answers to questions from both the prosecution and defense are setting up the more fleshed-out arguments lawyers from each side will make over the next several weeks of Combs’ criminal trial, making her complete participation critical.
Once she’s done, the testimony will be bolstered by expert witnesses for each side, trial consultant Richard Gabriel told CNN yesterday. Next, the lawyers will take what Ventura said on the stand and argue how it applies to actual legal statutes.
Today will be Ventura’s fourth day testifying.
