Sean Combs trial updates: Judge grants former Combs assistant immunity from prosecution

According to former Sean Combs assistant David James' testimony, Combs dispatched James and a security guard named D-Roc to Mel's Diner in Los Angeles at three or four o'clock in the morning.

"We pulled into the parking lot and D-Roc looks over and says, 'That's m------------ Suge Knight,'" James testified, clarifying for the jury that the then-chairman of Death Row Records was a Combs rival.

James testified that D-Roc approached Knight and said, "It's me, D-Roc, Biggie's boy."

While waiting for their food, James testified that four black SUVs pulled into the parking lot and that he allegedly saw someone pass Knight a gun.

"D-Roc said, 'We got to f------ go.," James told the court.

James testified that when he returned to Combs' house, Combs and Cassie Ventura were outside arguing: "Cassie looked very distressed. She was telling him not to go" to the diner.

James told the court that Combs told him to get behind the wheel of a black Escalade and drive to the diner. "M------------ go," James testified Combs told him from the back seat of the vehicle. James further told the court that Combs had three handguns on his lap at the time.

"I was really struck by it. I realized for the first time being Mr. Combs' assistant that my life was in danger," James testified. A short time later, James gave his notice and left the company, he testified.

On cross-examination, defense attorney Marc Agnifilo challenged James' recollection of the event, which prosecutors have said supports their contention that Combs was the leader of a criminal enterprise.

"Did you leave D-Roc at the diner?" Agnifilo asked.

James smiled and laughed. "That's a crazy statement," he replied.

Asked why he did not object to returning to the diner with an allegedly gun-carrying Combs, James answered, "You have someone with three guns in close proximity, I didn't think I had the option."

"You were executing the mission," Agnifilo asserted.

James responded, "I was doing what I was told."

As Sean Combs then-personal assistant, David James, testified that he was required to ensure Sean Combs' hotel rooms were stocked with 40 different skin care products, a Luis Vuitton bag that routinely contained $10,000 cash, and "probably 25 or 30 different pill bottles."

James testified that he procured drugs for Combs, sometimes prescription Percocet, which he told the court he sometimes filled under his own name.

"Did you give him or anyone else permission to fill prescriptions in your name?" prosecutor Christy Slavik asked, referring to Combs.

"I don't recall that," James answered.

James also testified that Combs allegedly took ecstasy pills marked with the face of former President Obama. Asked how often he saw Combs take drugs, James responded, "I would say every day."

Obtaining and distributing narcotics is among the alleged racketeering acts in the indictment against Combs.

In his testimony, James recalled taking ecstasy and dancing around one of Combs' parties. Later, James testified, Combs reviewed footage of the party, noticed James in the footage and allegedly told him, "I'm going to keep this footage in case I ever need it."

James also testified he stocked Combs' hotel rooms with baby oil, Astroglide lubricant, condoms and prophylactics that he paid for in cash provided by one of Combs' security guards.

James further testified that in 2008, Combs asked him to bring an iPod into a hotel room in Miami. Since James had set up the room he had a key and opened the door to let himself in, he told the court.

"I saw the Cassie on the bed. She had a white comforter up to her neck, her head to the side and she did not move when I entered," James testified. He also told the jury that he remembered a "gentleman" in the room he did not recognize.

"He was completely naked, about 5 feet, 8 inches" with a "very large endowment," James testified.

The man "scurried out as if he didn't want to be seen," James told the court.

Tuesday's witnesses are expected to include an alleged escort known as "The Punisher," as well as Cassie Ventura's mother, prosecutors said.

Sean Combs' one-time personal assistant, David James, returns Tuesday to the witness stand where he became emotional recalling his job interview with the vice president of human resources at Bad Boy Records.

"We were sitting at her desk and there was a picture of Mr. Combs on the wall," James began before choking up at the memory. "She pointed at the wall and she said, 'This is Mr. Combs' kingdom. We're all here to serve in it.'"

His service lasted two years, from 2007-2009, and in that time, James witnessed Combs allegedly attack his personal chef, a woman named Jourdan, who is expected to testify later this week. James also testified that Ventura once told him she could not leave Combs because he controlled too much of her life.

"She was, like, 'I can't, I can't get out,' you know. 'Mr. Combs oversees so much of my life,'" James testified.

James is expected to testify about a time when Combs and others went to confront Suge Knight at Mel's Diner. Ventura had previously testified about it as part of her description of the culture of fear that Combs and his employees allegedly created.

"Sean and I were having a 'freak off' at one of his homes in LA. And, um, I just remember we were kind of, like, just chilling at this point. And D-Roc came in and he said that Suge was down at Mel's Diner, which was just right down the hill. And they quickly packed up and drove down there," Ventura recalled. "I was crying. I was screaming, like, please don't do anything stupid."

Combs is seated at the defense table in a darker colored crew neck sweater. His attorneys are trying to convince the jury jealousy and drugs caused him to be violent. Federal prosecutors argue his violence was meant to coerce Ventura into sex performances with male escorts. One of those escorts, who Ventura said she knew as "The Punisher," is expected to testify Tuesday, along with Ventura's mother.

She is expected to testify about sex tapes that her daughter described as "blackmail materials" and about injuries on her daughter's body that the jury has already seen in photographs.