Cassie Ventura is no longer on the stand, but she was the central character in testimony from three witnesses on Monday in the federal criminal case against Sean "Diddy" Combs .

Pop singer Dawn Richard, Ventura's former best friend and one of Combs' former assistants each testified about their interactions with Ventura as the prosecution sought to bolster Ventura's testimony last week that Combs physically abused her and controlled her life for over a decade.

The prosecution alleges that Combs and some in his inner circle used threats, violence, drugs, bribery, arson, kidnapping and lies to coerce Ventura and another woman into participating in what he called "Freak Offs" and to protect the music mogul's reputation.

In contrast, the defense has contended that Combs was at times jeal

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