Richard, formerly of the girl group Danity Kane, testified that Combs threatened her and her bandmates after they witnessed him beating his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura at his Los Angeles home. 

Pop singer, Dawn Richard, delivered chilling testimony on Monday in the ongoing sex trafficking trial of American hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, telling a Manhattan federal jury that she feared for her life after witnessing a violent assault in 2009 and being warned by Combs that she could “go missing” if she spoke out.

Richard, formerly of the girl group Danity Kane, testified that Combs threatened her and her bandmates after they witnessed him beating his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura at his Los Angeles home. 

“I was shocked but also scared,” Richard said. “I believed we could die if we told anyone.”

The trial has attracted intense media coverage due to Combs’ iconic status in the music industry, according to Reuters. 

The 55-year-old founder of Bad Boy Records, credited with launching the careers of artists like Mary J. Blige, The Notorious B.I.G., and Usher, faces five felony charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Combs has pleaded not guilty and has been held in a Brooklyn jail since September 2024. If convicted, he could face 15 years to life in prison.

The prosecution’s case centers on claims from Cassie Ventura, 38, who last week testified over four days that Combs subjected her to years of physical abuse and coerced her into participating in drug-fueled sex parties he called “Freak Offs.” 

She also accused Combs of raping her in August 2018, after their relationship had ended.

“I just remember crying and saying no,” Ventura said during emotional testimony.

 Defense attorneys challenged her credibility by presenting text messages suggesting she had consensual sex with Combs a month later.

Richard, who testified again Monday, described a 2009 incident in which Combs flew into a rage over food being late and assaulted Ventura in front of the group. The next day, Richard claimed Combs summoned them to his studio, handed out flowers, and warned their careers would suffer if they reported the attack.

Though Ventura did not testify about the 2009 assault, she has described multiple alleged beatings over their 11-year relationship. Her civil lawsuit filed in November 2023 led to a $20 million settlement and sparked the federal investigation into Combs.

Richard has also filed a civil suit, alleging inhumane working conditions, sexual assault, and witnessing repeated abuse of Ventura.

The federal trial is expected to last up to two months.