Sean Combs sex trafficking trial updates: Cassie's testimony ends after days of describing abuse

Cassie Ventura returned to the witness stand for a fourth day Friday to continue cross-examination.

She took her seat wearing a baggy pin-striped suit and long, untucked light-colored shirt. She appeared calm and composed, as she has throughout her testimony.

"You understand you are still under oath?" Judge Arun Subramanian asked her. "Yes," she replied.

The expectation is this will be Ventura's last day on the witness stand after prosecutors argued she could give birth as soon as this weekend. Ventura is eight months pregnant.

Prosecutors accused the defense of being inefficient with cross-examination on purpose, hoping to "risk a mistrial," if she goes into labor. The defense argues that they should have the right to thoroughly cross-examine the witness.

The testimony picked up where it left off Thursday, at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City where Ventura testified there was a "freak off" in 2016 she attempted to escape after she alleged Combs became violent prior to the premiere of her movie "The Perfect Match."

"I believe that he was intoxicated," Ventura testified, describing Combs during the encounter. She then read a message she sent him afterwards: "When you get f----- up the wrong way you always want to show me you have the power and knock me around. I'm not a rag doll. I'm someone's child."

The defense has argued Combs became violent because of his drug use and not as a means to strong-arm Ventura into sex.

Defense lawyers for Sean Combs are trying to prolong their cross-examination of Cassie Ventura into next week, hoping to "risk a mistrial if the witness goes into labor," federal prosecutors said in an overnight letter to the judge.

The letter pointed to the "inefficiency" of the defense cross examination as proof the defense "hopes to accomplish precisely that outcome."

Prosecutors argued that Ventura was often made to read long excerpts of text messages with no real question, an approach prosecutors called a "filibuster" and asked the judge to order the defense to finish by 4:30 Friday, allowing a half hour for re-direct.

Prosecutors said defense counsel has known for weeks about Ventura's pregnancy and they earlier told the judge Ventura could have her baby as soon as this weekend.

The defense argues that they should have the right to thoroughly cross-examine the witness.

Prosecutors allege the defense is hoping to "risk a mistrial if the witness goes into labor."

As Judge Arun Subramanian sent the jury home, he told them he plans to resume Cassie's testimony promptly at 9:30 a.m. Friday. After the jury had left the room, the judge told defense lawyers they would have up to five hours to question Cassie on Friday.

Prosecutors said they expected to have no more than a half hour of questions for Cassie once the defense is finished. Combs attorney Marc Agnifilo said he'll let the court know in the morning whether the defense can finish so that Cassie doesn't have to testify on Monday.

The defense questioned whether Cassie Ventura had really witnessed Sean Combs dangle one of her friends over a balcony, as she previously testified that she had.

"You learned about this after the fact," defense attorney Anna Estevao said.

"I saw what I saw, so I don't know," Ventura answered.

The defense also questioned Ventura's prior testimony recounting a time when she alleged Combs and others went to confront record executive Suge Knight at a diner, and her account of Combs allegedly attacking her friend Kerry Morgan.

Estevao elicited testimony from Ventura about Combs' alleged drug use and its effect on his moods. Ventura testified that Combs could be "pretty explosive."

The defense also attempted to establish instances when Combs in turn worried about Ventura's drug use.

"He wanted you to stop doing drugs," Estevao said.

"He wanted me to stop doing drugs with other people," Ventura responded.

The cross-examination at times became disjointed and meandering such that at one point, Estevao declared, "I know I'm all over the place."