Diddy trial: Luigi Mangione’s lawyer assists defence in cross-examination of Cassie

Karen Friedman Agnifilo, wife of Sean “Diddy” Combs' lead attorney Marc Agnifilo, was seen conferring with members of the music mogul’s defence team during a break in court proceedings on Thursday.

Among those she spoke to was defence attorney Anna Estevao, who has been spearheading the cross-examination of the prosecution’s star witness, Cassie Ventura.Earlier in the hearing, Combs had made a heart-shaped hand gesture toward Karen Friedman Agnifilo’s mother, who was seated next to her, as per CNN.The court break, requested by Ventura, took place as her explosive testimony continued in a packed Manhattan courtroom. Her statements have been central to the federal sex trafficking and racketeering case against Combs, who has denied all charges and remains jailed. Mangione, is facing federal death penalty prosecution in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is currently battling both state and federal charges. His lawyers recently accused prosecutors of violating double jeopardy protections, and Karen Friedman Agnifilo has been one of the key names associated with his defence efforts.Her involvement in Diddy’s legal strategy, albeit unofficial, comes at a critical point in the trial, where the defence is working hard to undercut Cassie’s portrayal of herself as a victim.

Estevao used a string of sexually explicit messages exchanged between Combs and Ventura to argue that she was a willing participant in what prosecutors describe as "freak-offs"—drug-fuelled group sex encounters that Ventura says left her traumatised.Cassie, who is visibly pregnant and has so far remained composed under cross-examination, pushed back on that narrative, insisting that despite the tone of some messages, her participation was coerced and maintained through fear, addiction, and control.

She has testified that Combs not only manipulated her emotionally but physically assaulted her, and at one point raped her following their breakup in 2018.The trial, which is expected to run for several more weeks, has drawn massive media attention due to the serious nature of the charges and Combs' celebrity status. Prosecutors allege he operated a criminal enterprise using his fame and a network of employees to facilitate sex trafficking, blackmail, and violent acts. The defence maintains that Combs is guilty only of bad behaviour, not criminal activity.