Testimony resumes Tuesday in the trial of Stefon Diggs, the former New England Patriots player accused of attacking his private chef at his home in Dedham, Massachusetts, last year.Diggs is facing charges of felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery. He has previously pleaded not guilty and denied that he strangled his private chef.The chef worked for Diggs and lived in his home while he was with the Patriots, who released him in March. She was the first witness called to give testimony in the case and is expected to return to face additional questioning on Tuesday. Diggs’ defense argues that the allegations are unsubstantiated and came amid the chef’s demands for money. Opening statementsProsecutor Drew Virtue used his brief opening statement to orient the jurors to their role and the others at work in the courtroom. He also previewed the testimony of the chef’s career, how she came to work for Diggs and what she alleges happened on Dec. 2. Diggs’ attorney gave a much longer opening statement, in which he argued that the commonwealth does not have any evidence to support the charges. “It never happened. Did not happen. There was no strangulation. There was no assault. There was no incident on Dec. 2 or any other date. There were six people in Mr. Dixon’s home on Dec. 2, and no one heard or saw anything out of the ordinary,” attorney Andrew Kettlewell told the jury. He also suggested that the chef withheld some messages from the police and that she only went to the police after she was fired. Chef’s testimonyJamilah “Mila” Adams testified that her relationship with Diggs started as a friendship, turned sexual, then turned professional.Adams testified that her live-in role included helping to plan and guide Diggs’ diet, plus cooking for anyone else in the house. She said that she was paid $2,000 per week.At one point, Adams testified she was confronted by Diggs about a message revealing private details of an intimate relationship he had with another employee. She also testified that she was not invited on a trip to Miami with Diggs’ entourage because of her situation with another employee.During her testimony, which was interrupted by several objections, Adams said that Diggs came into her room on Dec. 2, questioned her, slapped and choked her. She said other people were in the Dedham home at the time, but no one else witnessed the alleged assault. Adams testified that she did not take any photos of the injuries she suffered, didn’t seek medical care and didn’t discuss the incident with anyone in Diggs’ circle because, she said, she did not trust them. Case backgroundThe charges stem from an alleged Dec. 2 incident at Diggs’ home, in which the chef told police Diggs hit and choked her during a dispute over payment. According to court documents, Diggs “tried to choke using the crook of his elbow around her neck.”Video below: Stefon Diggs arrives at Dedham courthouseThe paperwork alleges the woman “had trouble breathing and that she felt like she could have blacked out. She said that as she tried to pry his arm away, he tightened his grip. At that point, the male threw her onto the bed. He said something to the effect of ‘Thought so.'”The police report showed the woman had some redness on her chest, but there were no pictures taken as evidence. Prosecutors said they plan to call two witnesses, the chef and a police officer. The defense said it will call people who were inside the house at the time of the alleged assault.
Testimony resumes Tuesday in the trial of Stefon Diggs, the former New England Patriots player accused of attacking his private chef at his home in Dedham, Massachusetts, last year.
Diggs is facing charges of felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery. He has previously pleaded not guilty and denied that he strangled his private chef.
The chef worked for Diggs and lived in his home while he was with the Patriots, who released him in March. She was the first witness called to give testimony in the case and is expected to return to face additional questioning on Tuesday.
Diggs’ defense argues that the allegations are unsubstantiated and came amid the chef’s demands for money.
Opening statements
Prosecutor Drew Virtue used his brief opening statement to orient the jurors to their role and the others at work in the courtroom. He also previewed the testimony of the chef’s career, how she came to work for Diggs and what she alleges happened on Dec. 2.
Diggs’ attorney gave a much longer opening statement, in which he argued that the commonwealth does not have any evidence to support the charges.
“It never happened. Did not happen. There was no strangulation. There was no assault. There was no incident on Dec. 2 or any other date. There were six people in Mr. Dixon’s home on Dec. 2, and no one heard or saw anything out of the ordinary,” attorney Andrew Kettlewell told the jury.
He also suggested that the chef withheld some messages from the police and that she only went to the police after she was fired.
Chef’s testimony
Jamilah “Mila” Adams testified that her relationship with Diggs started as a friendship, turned sexual, then turned professional.
Adams testified that her live-in role included helping to plan and guide Diggs’ diet, plus cooking for anyone else in the house. She said that she was paid $2,000 per week.
At one point, Adams testified she was confronted by Diggs about a message revealing private details of an intimate relationship he had with another employee. She also testified that she was not invited on a trip to Miami with Diggs’ entourage because of her situation with another employee.
During her testimony, which was interrupted by several objections, Adams said that Diggs came into her room on Dec. 2, questioned her, slapped and choked her. She said other people were in the Dedham home at the time, but no one else witnessed the alleged assault.
Adams testified that she did not take any photos of the injuries she suffered, didn’t seek medical care and didn’t discuss the incident with anyone in Diggs’ circle because, she said, she did not trust them.
Case background
The charges stem from an alleged Dec. 2 incident at Diggs’ home, in which the chef told police Diggs hit and choked her during a dispute over payment.
According to court documents, Diggs “tried to choke [the victim] using the crook of his elbow around her neck.”
Video below: Stefon Diggs arrives at Dedham courthouse
The paperwork alleges the woman “had trouble breathing and that she felt like she could have blacked out. She said that as she tried to pry his arm away, he tightened his grip. At that point, the male threw her onto the bed. He said something to the effect of ‘Thought so.'”
The police report showed the woman had some redness on her chest, but there were no pictures taken as evidence.
Prosecutors said they plan to call two witnesses, the chef and a police officer.
The defense said it will call people who were inside the house at the time of the alleged assault.
