Jury hears Sean 'Diddy' Combs was 'coercive and criminal'

Sean 'Diddy' Combs used violence and threats of reputational ruin to control women he abused for years, New York jurors heard during opening statements of the federal sex trafficking trial that was followed by the case's initial graphic testimonies.

The panel of 12 jurors and six alternates responsible for determining Mr Combs's fate heard of the famed artist's explosive outbursts and an attempt to preserve his own reputation and power of celebrity through bribery.

But the 55-year-old music mogul's defence team insisted that while some of his behaviour was questionable - and at times constituted domestic abuse - it did not amount to evidence of the racketeering and sex trafficking he is charged with.

Mr Combs has pleaded not guilty on all counts.

Prosecutor Emily Johnson alleged Mr Combs "brutally" abused his former girlfriend, singer Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura.

Ms Ventura's testimony is core to the case, and she is expected to take the witness stand as soon as today.

Ms Johnson also told jurors Mr Combs had set a man's car ablaze and dangled a woman from a balcony, and made impossible demands of his lovers and employees alike.

"Let me be clear," US attorney Ms Johnson said, "this case is not about a celebrity's private sexual preferences."

"It's coercive and criminal," she added.

'Toxic relationship' claim

But Mr Combs's defence lawyer Teny Geragos told jurors the "case is about love, jealousy and infidelity and money."

Mr Combs stood up and looked at the jury box when Mr Geragos introduced him.

Ms Geragos called Mr Combs's accusers "capable, strong adult women," and said his situation with Ms Ventura was a "toxic relationship" but "between two people who loved each other".

"Being a willing participant in your own sex life is not sex trafficking," she said, adding that the defence would admit there was domestic violence - but that Mr Combs is not charged with such crimes.

Mr Combs was joined at the courthouse by his family, including 18-year-old twin daughters, as well as his mother Janice.

'Woman in distress'

The case's first witness was a Los Angeles police officer who "at the time" was a security officer - and who responded to a call of "a woman in distress" on 5 March 2016 at the Los Angeles-area InterContinental Hotel.

The witness's testimony provided the foundation for the prosecution to introduce evidence of now-infamous security footage - published by CNN last year - of Mr Combs in a towel chasing Ms Ventura throughout the hotel hallways, at times striking her.

The jury was repeatedly shown the video yesterday, including a cell phone-recorded version that the witness filmed himself of the original footage.

The witness detailed his interaction with Mr Combs and Ms Ventura in painstaking detail, including saying that after the officer escorted the rapper back to his room, Mr Combs offered him money.

The officer understood this was intended as a bribe: "He was telling me, 'Don't tell nobody,'" he said.

His testimony was followed by a male dancer who reportedly engaged in a sexual relationship with Mr Combs and Ms Ventura from 2012 to approximately the end of 2013.

He said Mr Combs physically abused Ms Ventura in front of him.

"Why is she doing this, why is she staying with this guy?" he recalled thinking.

Day one of testimony in the trial saw hoards of journalists, influencers and members of the public descend on the downtown Manhattan courthouse.

If convicted, the one-time rap producer and global superstar, who is often credited for his role in bringing hip-hop into the mainstream, could spend the rest of his life in prison.

The selected jurors will remain anonymous, but not sequestered - meaning they must individually ensure they stay away from media coverage and social media commentary about the high-profile case.

The proceedings are expected to last eight to 10 weeks.