ToplineSean “Diddy” Combs’ ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, took the witness stand Tuesday morning in what could be a days-long testimony crucial to the government’s case against the rap mogul, in which Ventura testified Combs would frequently subject her to physical abuse and coerced her to participate in “freak-off” sex parties (Combs has pleaded not guilty to all five federal charges).

The 55-year-old hip-hop mogul has been charged by federal prosecutors with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution.

In a separate development, the federal judge presiding over the case pushed the final stage of jury selection to early next week.