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

Sharay Hayes, who was known professionally as "The Punisher," a nickname he said he was given on the West 4th Street basketball court, testified that he came to know Sean Combs and Cassie Ventura in late 2012 after he was hired "to create like a sexy scene, sexy erotic scene for them on occasion."

Hayes testified that he advertised on a website and his phone number was on the website. He told the court that a woman who went by Janet called "stating it was her birthday, and her husband said she could hire a dancer."

Hayes testified that he was instructed to go to Trump Tower on Central Park West to perform a striptease. When he arrived, he testified that Ventura greeted him in a bathrobe with "nothing on underneath" and explained "that she didn't want me to actually dance."

Instead, Hayes testified that the woman he still knew as Janet said she and her husband "liked to create a sexy scene" that included the application of baby oil while her husband watched. She allegedly handed him a stack of money that he counted in the bathroom totalling $800.

"I was specifically told to not acknowledge her husband. Try not to look at him. No communication between me and him," Hayes testified. He told the court that he did not recognize the man Ventura referred to has her husband but came to learn in subsequent encounters that it was Combs.

"The room was dimly lit, maybe electronic candles," Hayes testified. "All of the furniture was covered in sheets and there was an area pretty much for me to sit and for her to sit across from me. There were bowls of water and bottles of baby oil."

During the encounter, Hayes testified that a man entered the hotel suite.

"The man was nude but I could not see his face," Hayes testified. "So it was a nude male with a veil on. What I saw was a bottle of Astroglide he was carrying." He told the court that he used the product himself and recognized the purple cap.

"There was a table and chair so he sat behind the table and chair," Hayes recalled in his testimony. "I noticed that at times he was masturbating."

Hayes testified that Combs spoke to Ventura during the 25-45 minute episode. "It was mostly subtle directions. Move the light to the side. Move her body a certain way," Hayes testified.

"At some point the man stood up and left the room. Ms. Ventura followed him out. I sat there waiting on the couch," Hayes told the court.

When Ventura re-entered the room, "She asked me if I wanted to finish. I declined. I said I was good, as long as they were happy I was happy. She said that's what we wanted, and I was handed additional money." It was an additional $1,200, according to Hayes' testimony.

Hayes told the court that the couple called him another eight to 12 times.

The court is now on lunch.

Regina Ventura testified that when her daughter, Cassie Ventura, was flying home for the holidays in December 2011, she sent her mother and Sean Combs' assistant an email that Regina Ventura testified made her "physically sick."

"The threats that have been made to me by Sean Puffy Combs are that he is going to release 2 explicit tapes of me," the email allegedly said, according to Regina Ventura. "He also said he will be having someone hurt me and Scott Mescudi physically," referring to rapper Kid Cudi, with whom Cassie Ventura previously testified she was briefly romantically involved while still with Combs.

"I was physically sick. I did not understand a lot of it. The sex tapes threw me," Regina Ventura testified.

Darla Miles reports from outside court where Sean 'Diddy' Combs is on trial.

She further testified that Combs allegedly demanded $20,000 to "recoup money that he had spent" on Cassie.

Ventura testified that she and her husband took out a home equity loan in order to satisfy Combs' alleged demand.

"We decided that's the only way we could get the money," Ventura testified. "I was scared for my daughter's safety." She told the court that she allegedly received instructions from Combs' bookkeeper on how to wire the money and sent it to him. The money was returned several days later, Ventura told the court.

Regina Ventura also testified that she used a digital camera to take photos of what she described as bruises on her daughter's back, arm and leg.

"She was bruised, and I wanted to memorialize it," Ventura told the court.

The jury has previously seen two of the photos previously but saw several more photos of multiple bruises.

Regina Ventura will not undergo cross-examination.

Regina Ventura, in a turtleneck and long, camel-colored tasseled shawl, is now testifying.

She said she met Sean Combs in 2006 when "Cassandra signed with Bad Boy."

She came to know him, she said, because "He dated my daughter."

Combs' former assistant, David James, testified to some of Sean Combs dietary preferences, recalling a time in London where Combs "would not be happy" because the ketchup there was not the same as the brand he preferred.

"Ketchup was a big item he needed for his food," James told the court.

"Were you aware he put applesauce on cheeseburgers?" defense attorney Marc Agnifilo asked.

"I was not aware of that but I knew he liked applesauce," James replied.

James purchased these food items through Combs' company, James testified, but he affirmed on cross-examination that he would use cash to purchase items such as baby oil, personal lubricant and condoms.

James also told the court about what he said were the demanding hours and the sometimes questionable things he did during his employment with Combs. He testified by way of example that he allegedly once purchased an "eight-ball of cocaine" in Saint-Tropez for a Combs associate.

Seven-day workweeks were common, according to James' testimony.

"Something the security detail would tell us: 'You know what rhymes with tired?' And the answer is, 'fired,'" James testified. He told the court about one night when Combs allegedly admonished him for driving through a red light.

"I turned around and said 'I'm f------ tired, man. I'm exhausted,'" James told the court. He testified that Combs did not fire him for the remark.

James also testified about throngs of people in public who wanted to touch Combs or get his autograph.

"Did he tend to be gracious about these things?" Agnifilo asked.

"I don't think gracious is a word to describe Mr. Combs," James responded.

James was asked about Combs' personal chef, a woman named Jourdan Atkinson, who is expected to testify later this week.

James testified that he personally once "got upset, squeezed her wrists and told her to stay in your f------ lane," referring to Atkinson. James testified that the incident was reported and Combs called him into his room to talk about it.

"He asked me what happened, and I told him what happened. And he said, 'You can't be putting your hands on women.' I said, 'I know sir I f----- up.' He told me to write her a note and buy her a gift," James testified, adding. "I rolled up a blunt and gave her a blunt."

"Did she appreciate it?" Agnifilo asked.

"She did," James testified.

On re-direct examination, James testified about a time in Alpine, NJ, when, referring to a separate incident in which James said he physically confronted Atkinson, Combs asked James to file a police report saying Jourdan was the aggressor and hit James first.

"Did you file?" prosecutor Christy Slavik asked.

"I didn't want to make a false police report and lie to the police," James answered.

The defense asked James about a time when he and a security guard allegedly brought two prostitutes back to Combs' house when he was not there.

"Security did it all the time," James testified. "After we had intercourse, she asked me for $200 and I was surprised. I had no idea. I was against paying her." James told the court that the security guard said, "You better pay her because we don't want any problems at the house.'"

James testified that the woman wanted to shower, to which James said he responded, "If you want to take a shower give me my 200 back.'"

The response elicited laughter in the court. Defense attorney Agnifilo remarked, "You got your money back!"

James' testimony has concluded. Court then took a break.