The newly seated jury heard opening statements with dueling explanations of events: The government said the evidence will show that the sexual conduct in this case was coercive and criminal. The defense conceded Combs “has a temper” and “got violent” when they say he drank or used drugs, but said domestic violence is not part of the charges. Early prosecution witnesses included a former hotel security guard who testified about Combs’s violence toward Cassie in a 2016 incident and a male escort.

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