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(NewsNation) — Casandra “Cassie” Ventura may be required to return to the witness stand next week despite initial plans that the pregnant ex-partner of Sean “Diddy” Combs would be finished testifying against the disgraced hip-hop mogul by Friday.
Combs’ attorneys began their cross-examination of Ventura on Thursday after she testified for two days as the prosecution’s star witness against Combs.
However, Combs’ defense team informed the court Thursday that they do not plan to finish questioning Ventura until the end of the day Friday.
Cassie Ventura, right, walks out of the courtroom past Sean Diddy Combs after testifying in Manhattan federal court, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) 
Cassie Ventura wipes tears from her eye while testifying in Manhattan federal court, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) 
Cassie Ventura takes an oath before testifying in Manhattan federal court, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) 
HOLLYWOOD, CA – MARCH 07: Sean Combs and Cassie Ventura attend the premiere of “The Perfect Match” at ArcLight Hollywood on March 7, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic) 
Cassie Ventura, a longtime associate and former girlfriend of Combs, previously filed the civil suit that triggered the criminal investigation. 
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 07: Cassie Ventura and Sean “Diddy” Combs attend the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for The Hollywood Reporter)
If Combs’ attorneys’ questioning lasts throughout Friday, Ventura may need to return to the stand on redirect for the prosecution Monday.
Judge Arun Subramanian reminded attorneys in a lively discussion that took place Thursday outside of the jury’s presence that the two sides had previously agreed that Ventura would be done on the witness stand by the end of the week.
The judge told Combs’ attorney that their plan is the “exact opposite” of what he was originally told.
In the conversation, the judge told the defense to finish its cross-examination of Ventura by Friday morning to allow prosecutors the chance to ask Ventura any follow-up questions before court ended for the week. However, he left the door open that Ventura may need to re-take the stand on Monday.
Ventura is pregnant with her third child and is expected to give birth soon.
“That is why there is a sword that I must fall on,” Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, responded Thursday, blaming the prosecution for throwing the timing of the testimony off by calling additional witnesses. He characterized the prosecution’s move as “strategic” and suggested that prosecutors had called the two extra witnesses as a way of limiting cross-examination.
During their cross-examination of Ventura, defense attorneys for Combs characterized Ventura as a willing participant in the more-than-decade-long relationship with Combs. They had Ventura read some text messages and emails that she sent to Combs aloud in court, including one from 2010 that showed a fracture in their relationship.
“That’s not being in a relationship with someone that you love and are in love with,” she read. “I am really hurt by the way you deal with me; I don’t need your money; I need some attention.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.