Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial: Defence alleges Dawn Richard filed lawsuit to “get a lot of money”
The defence lawyer for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has alleged that witness Dawn Richard is only motivated by money during the rapper’s criminal trial for sex trafficking and racketeering in New York.
Richard was giving further evidence on May 19th, after previously testifying that Combs abused his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, for something as simple as “having an opinion”.
While being cross-examined by lawyer Nicole Westmoreland, the defence questioned what Danity Kane singer Richard’s true motives were in the case.
Richard also performed with Combs in the trio Diddy-Dirty Money between 2009 and 2011, having been discovered by him and forming her band Danity Kane on an MTV reality show. She has filed a civil lawsuit against Combs, separate from the current trial, the details of which he denies.
Noting that she felt “saddened” that Combs decided to disband these musical outfits, and that none of her subsequent work has gone on to the same success, Westmoreland asked Richard: “You felt like Combs ruined your career, not once, but twice?” to which she replied: “Yes.”
The defence then attempted to make the singer concede that she had filed her lawsuit against the rapper to “get a lot of money,” which she rebuked by saying she wanted to be “compensated for the work [she] put forth.”
Combs’ defence team voiced a similar sentiment in their opening statements of the trial on May 12th, claiming that many of the former hip-hop mogul’s accusers were “strong, capable women” who wanted to take advantage of his wealth.
Combs is charged with five counts of sexual abuse, trafficking, and racketeering in the criminal case, where he has plead not guilty and denies all the accusations. The trial continues.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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