Zürcher Nachrichten - Rapper Kid Cudi testifies of torched car in Sean Combs trial

The highly anticipated testimony from the famous rapper Kid Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, follows last week's bombshell testimony in Manhattan federal court from Ventura, who said she was physically and psychologically abused for years by Combs.

The once-powerful music industry figure is on trial for sex trafficking and racketeering.

Mescudi described one day when Ventura called him sounding "scared" and "nervous" as she told him that Combs had found out about their fling.

Mescudi said he had thought Ventura and Combs weren't together any longer when he started seeing her, but took her to the Sunset Marquee hotel for her safety.

"I just wanted to put her somewhere she'd be off the radar," testified Mescudi, who told jurors he knew that Combs abused Ventura.

As the pair hid out, Mescudi said they received a call from Combs's assistant Capricorn Clark, who said she had been forced to ride along to Mescudi's home where Combs had gone inside.

Mescudi called Combs who said "I'm over here waiting for you."

When he arrived, he didn't see Combs, but he did find his dog, which was usually allowed to roam free around the house, locked in a bathroom.

Mescudi said his impulse was to fight Combs but instead he called the police.

Shortly thereafter in January 2012, Mescudi said he received a call from his dog sitter who said the rapper's car was on fire.

Jurors were shown six photos of the mangled, ruined car that was found next to a Molotov cocktail.

Asked by prosecutors how he reacted to the discovery, Mescudi, who took the stand in a black leather jacket and white tee, said simply "what the fuck."

Ventura previously testified that in his fury over the love triangle, Combs had threatened to blow up Mescudi's vehicle.

- 'Just so angry' -

Prosecutors say Combs was the kingpin of a criminal enterprise for decades, a ring that wielded its power including through arson, bribery and kidnapping.

Combs, 55, is also on trial for sex trafficking; if he is found guilty of the alleged federal crimes, he faces an effective life prison sentence.

Ventura told jurors that Combs -- who she says coerced her into "freak-off" sex marathons with male prostitutes for years -- flew into a violent rage after he learned of her romance with Mescudi, lunging at her with a wine corkscrew and threatening to make public sexually explicit footage of her.

"He was just so angry," she said during her four days on the stand. "He told me about videos that he had that he was going to release, and how he was going to hurt Scott and I."

Mescudi corroborated testimony from Ventura saying that when confronted about the scorched car, the powerful music mogul played dumb.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Mescudi said Combs told him.

Asked by prosecutors what Mescudi took that to mean, the rapper replied: "That he was lying."

M.Hug--NZN