Tense cross-examination of Stefon Diggs' accuser at trial over alleged money demand

[00:00:00] Speaker 1: Just a reminder. Reminder. Just a reminder that you're still under a... [00:00:27] Speaker 2: Okay. And Ms. Adams, again, as of the same as yesterday, if you could do your best to keep your voice up, that is appreciated. [00:00:35] Speaker 3: Yes. [00:00:36] Speaker 2: Thank you. [00:00:37] Speaker 3: May I proceed, Your Honor? Yes, thank you. Thank you. Ms. Adams, on January 1st, 2026, you sent Steph's girlfriend a text message that later appeared on TMZ's website, correct? Yes. And in that text message, you told Steph's girlfriend that you were so sorry, but you couldn't talk to her, right? [00:01:07] Speaker 4: Yes. [00:01:09] Speaker 3: And you told Steph's girlfriend in that text message, I didn't say that, especially in the way it was written. [00:01:17] Speaker 4: Yes. [00:01:18] Speaker 3: And you were talking about the statement that you made to the Dedham police, right? [00:01:25] Speaker 4: It was a voicemail, and I didn't listen. I read the transcript, so I didn't know her voice. [00:01:33] Speaker 3: When you told Steph's girlfriend on January 1st, 2026... [00:01:36] Speaker 4: I don't understand the question. I'm sorry. [00:01:39] Speaker 3: I haven't finished my question. When you told Steph's girlfriend on January 1st, 2026, I didn't say that, you were referring to the statements that were reported in the press that you gave to the Dedham police department, correct? [00:02:00] Speaker 4: I don't understand your question. [00:02:02] Speaker 3: Did you or did you not write those words? [00:02:05] Speaker 4: I don't understand your question. Without further explaining. [00:02:09] Speaker 3: You can't testify under oath to this jury what you meant by the words you wrote to Steph's girlfriend on January 1st, 2026? [00:02:18] Speaker 4: I'm sorry. I don't understand your question. Without further explaining. [00:02:21] Speaker 3: You also asked Steph's girlfriend to, quote, please call my mediator, and she will answer everything you need to know. but only in person and confidentially, right? [00:02:37] Speaker 4: Yes. [00:02:39] Speaker 3: Your mediator's name is Lynette Marie, right? [00:02:44] Speaker 4: Lynette Marie. [00:02:45] Speaker 3: Thank you. She's also known as Lynette Marie Turner. [00:02:49] Speaker 4: I don't know. [00:02:50] Speaker 3: You don't know your mediator's last name? [00:02:55] Speaker 4: I don't know her. She's married. I don't know her exact last name. [00:03:01] Speaker 3: Your mediator works for a company called LMT Global, correct? [00:03:08] Speaker 4: Yes, that's her company. [00:03:10] Speaker 3: Your Honor, may I approach? Yes. [00:03:12] Speaker ?: Thank you. [00:03:24] Speaker 3: I'm showing you a corporate document from the state of Michigan. It is an amended annual report filed by LMT Global Corporation. Can you please read the name of the president of that company? [00:03:38] Speaker 5: Objection, Your Honor. [00:03:41] Speaker 2: Sidebar. Thank you. [00:04:12] Speaker 3: Thank you. Do you recognize this email from Elmarie on December 29th? Do you recognize this email from Elmarie on December 29th, 2025 to Stefan Diggs and a number of other people? [00:05:17] Speaker 4: No, I don't recognize it. [00:05:18] Speaker 3: You've never seen this money demand before? [00:05:20] Speaker 4: I've seen the money demand after. I was, that's it. I don't recognize the email. [00:05:26] Speaker 3: The testimony under oath is that your mediator made a money demand on December 29th for money for you from Mr. Diggs. [00:05:35] Speaker 4: Money for past wages. [00:05:36] Speaker 3: The same day the criminal complaint in this case issued and you didn't see it? [00:05:44] Speaker 4: I can't answer that question. [00:05:46] Speaker 3: I'm sorry? [00:05:47] Speaker 4: I can't answer that question without explaining furthermore. [00:05:50] Speaker 3: You can't answer that question under oath? [00:05:51] Speaker 4: Without explaining. [00:05:56] Speaker 3: Your mediator demanded $19,000 on that date, didn't she? [00:06:02] Speaker 4: For wages owed, yes. [00:06:10] Speaker 3: Your Honor, I move to strike that. Overall, answer stands. Thank you, Your Honor. You've made another money demand in this case, haven't you? Actually, before we get there, the $19,000. [00:06:35] Speaker 4: I didn't get a chance to answer the question. [00:06:36] Speaker 3: Before we get there. Are you withdrawing your question, counsel? Yes, the question is withdrawn. Thank you, Your Honor. After the money demand for $19,000 was provided to Stefan Diggs, on February 13th, you issued a public statement, didn't you? [00:06:53] Speaker 4: Yes. [00:06:54] Speaker 3: And in that public statement, you said, I have never sought money to settle this matter, right? [00:07:01] Speaker 4: I haven't. [00:07:05] Speaker 3: And by the middle of April, you had hired a lawyer to represent you, right? [00:07:11] Speaker 4: For workers' comp. [00:07:13] Speaker 3: That's a yes or no question, ma'am. [00:07:15] Speaker 4: Yes, for workers' comp. [00:07:16] Speaker 3: Your Honor, may the witness be instructed to please answer the questions posed. The witness answered your question. All right. And for workers' comp, the lawyer you hired, is she sitting in this room right now? [00:07:31] Speaker 4: Yes. [00:07:32] Speaker 3: And she helped you prepare for your testimony in this case, right? [00:07:36] Speaker 4: She came to support me. [00:07:37] Speaker 3: She came to the meeting with the Commonwealth's lawyer to help prepare you for your testimony in this case, correct? [00:07:46] Speaker 4: I don't know how to answer that answer, that question. [00:07:50] Speaker 3: You can't answer that question under oath, ma'am? No. You met with the prosecutor last Thursday, right? With your lawyer, right? [00:07:58] Speaker 4: I was told to have a lawyer because you guys asked me to plead the fifth on some things. So I was told, instructed to have my lawyer come. [00:08:07] Speaker 3: So your testimony under oath is that the Commonwealth's attorney instructed you to bring your private lawyer? [00:08:12] Speaker 4: Or a lawyer, that you guys offered a lawyer, so I brought my private lawyer. [00:08:16] Speaker 3: I'm sorry, when you say you guys, do you mean me, defense counsel for Mr. Diggs? [00:08:20] Speaker 4: Yes. [00:08:21] Speaker 3: Is your testimony under oath that I had some role in your preparation session with the district attorney's office to prepare you for your testimony in this case? [00:08:30] Speaker 4: I was told that the defense said I needed to have a lawyer, or they were going to provide a lawyer, something in that context, about pleading the fifth about messages. So I brought my lawyer, which was when I walked to the side of the judge yesterday. [00:08:54] Speaker 3: Your personal lawyer is here today, correct? [00:08:56] Speaker 4: My workers' comp. [00:08:57] Speaker 3: She's with the law firm of Boston Law. That's a law firm here in Dorchester, Massachusetts. [00:09:07] Speaker 2: Ma'am, I think that was, I apologize, but you do need to keep your voice up. I don't know if you answered. Okay. Thank you. [00:09:13] Speaker 4: Yes. [00:09:14] Speaker 3: Thank you. Tell the jury how much you are, I think you described her as a workers' comp lawyer. [00:09:22] Speaker 4: I got hurt because I was injured on the job, and I needed to file a workers' comp case. [00:09:29] Speaker 1: The final portion of that answer will be stricken, and you will disregard it. Ms. Adams, if you could just listen to the question, answer the question, and if you need it rephrased, the council will certainly rephrase it for you. [00:09:48] Speaker 3: Thank you, Your Honor. Three weeks ago, your lawyer demanded $5.5 million from Mr. Diggs, didn't he? [00:10:01] Speaker 4: Mr. Diggs offered me $100,000 silver camera statement. That is a yes. That is the only... [00:10:06] Speaker 3: May we be set her to side bar, please? [00:10:07] Speaker 1: The last part of the witness's response will be stricken as non-responsive. You will disregard it, and you will not consider it during your deliberation. Tell them that as well. But courtrooms function, and especially trials, unfold in a question-and-answer form. This is not an opportunity for you to interject your own narrative and evade responding to questions the court deems appropriate. And if you continue to do so, your entire testimony may be stricken. Am I clear? Yes. [00:11:18] Speaker ?: Thank you. [00:11:19] Speaker 1: All the jurors. All rise. Juror is entering. [00:11:42] Speaker 5: You may be seated. [00:12:04] Speaker 1: Jurors, at this point, I just want to be clear on one point, all right? And it's the following. You may not consider anything you heard that was stricken from the record. When an answer is stricken from the record, it does not exist. And in determining what the facts are from this case, you're sworn to determine those facts solely and exclusively from the evidence presented, and you may not consider any answer that I have stricken. Thank you. [00:12:47] Speaker ?: All right? All right? [00:12:49] Speaker 3: All right. Thank you. You may proceed. Thank you, counsel. Ms. Adams, three weeks ago, your lawyer demanded $5.5 million from Stefan Dix, correct? [00:13:03] Speaker 4: That is client-lawyer privilege, I cannot speak on that. [00:13:16] Speaker 3: You believe that your lawyer's communications to Stefan Dix are covered by your attorney-client privilege, ma'am? [00:13:25] Speaker 4: I can't answer that question. [00:13:28] Speaker 3: I don't know the answer to that question. You know that someone on your behalf has demanded $5.5 million from Stefan Dix, don't you? [00:13:44] Speaker 4: I have a worker's comp claim, and I explore all civil options. [00:13:49] Speaker 3: Ma'am? I don't understand. Are you able to answer that question? [00:13:52] Speaker 1: No. [00:13:53] Speaker 3: I'm not able to. Counsel, restate the question, please. That someone on your behalf has demanded $5.5 million from Stefan Dix. Do you know that, Ms. Adams? [00:14:06] Speaker 4: No. [00:14:07] Speaker 3: I don't know. [00:14:08] Speaker 4: I'm sorry. I don't know how to answer the question. I don't understand it. [00:14:12] Speaker 3: I have no further questions, Your Honor. [00:14:14] Speaker 4: Thank you. [00:14:15] Speaker ?: Thank you. May I read her? Your Honor, before we direct, may we be heard at sidebar? Of course. Thank you. Thank you. [00:14:20] Speaker 5: May I read her? Your Honor, before we direct, may we be heard at sidebar? [00:14:22] Speaker ?: Of course. Thank you. [00:14:24] Speaker 3: Your Honor, before we direct, may we be heard at sidebar? [00:14:27] Speaker 1: Of course. [00:14:28] Speaker ?: Thank you. [00:14:54] Speaker 1: Thank you. [00:15:24] Speaker 5: Good morning. [00:15:45] Speaker 1: Good morning. [00:15:46] Speaker 5: Yesterday, Defense Counsel showed you a form that you filled out to the police. [00:15:52] Speaker 4: Yes. [00:15:52] Speaker 5: And they made a point that you're the hand, but not the forearm and elbow. May I approach? I'm putting a form in front of you. If you could just take a look at that and look up, do you recognize it? Yes. And I may direct the officer's attention. Could you read right here when it says the expected injury? [00:16:34] Speaker 3: Objection, Your Honor. [00:16:37] Speaker 5: Is there anywhere on that form where you do note the forearm and forearm being used to choke you? [00:16:49] Speaker 2: Objection. [00:16:50] Speaker 5: Yes. [00:16:51] Speaker 2: Sidebar. Okay. [00:17:21] Speaker ?: Okay. Okay. [00:18:21] Speaker 5: Okay. On cross, I believe there's some questions about the text messages leading up to the assault. [00:18:37] Speaker 4: Yes. [00:18:38] Speaker 5: Do you have still a binder in front of you? Yes. Do you mind opening to section three and to pages ending in 114? [00:18:50] Speaker ?: Okay. [00:18:51] Speaker 5: Would you mind reading the text messages from page 114 to 117? [00:19:15] Speaker 4: Okay. And I'm running that bitch life. The next text message doesn't say anything. I won't be paying you shit. [00:19:31] Speaker 5: Do you mind just saying who's saying it? Okay. [00:19:33] Speaker 4: I said the first. I am running that bitch life. That's what I said. Mr. Dick said, I won't be paying you shit. [00:19:41] Speaker ?: Fuck. Fuck. [00:19:42] Speaker 4: I look like paying you and paying another chef. Is you high bitch? Who the fuck gave? Who the fuck give you money for your business? Who the fuck got to give you money for your business? Who the fuck got to give you money for your business? I don't got to do a motherfucking thing. And you can get whoever you want. You got my address. Tell them to come take the money then. Fuck you talking about. I said bet. Pussy. I said pussy. [00:20:10] Speaker ?: Show me I'm pussy. Will do. That's all. [00:20:13] Speaker 4: That's it. [00:20:14] Speaker 5: Um, in your experience as a personal chef, um, is it common practice that, uh, when chefs get sent away, they get paid for the week that they get sent away? [00:20:33] Speaker 4: Yes. Because that's the only job I have. [00:20:38] Speaker 5: And, um, I know, uh, on cross it came out that you made a public statement where you said, I have never sought money to settle this case. When you said this case, was that referring to the criminal case? Yes. Thank you. No, no further questions. [00:20:53] Speaker 3: Go ahead. That series of text messages that you just read. That was in response to you saying after you were fired by Mr. Diggs, you will be paying me out for the season and the money. I'm sorry. And this is on page 113 of exhibit three. You will be paying me out for the season and the money you said you would give me for my business. Wasted my fucking time being here because you got a fucking circus going on, right? Yes. So when he said he wouldn't be paying you, he was referring to your demand that after you leave your employment on December 2nd, he nonetheless continued to pay you $2,000 a week for the rest of the New England Patriots football season while you were not working for him, right? [00:21:46] Speaker 4: That's not how it goes. [00:21:49] Speaker 3: You will be paying me out for the season, right? [00:21:53] Speaker 4: I was a contracted employee. [00:21:55] Speaker 3: It's a yes or no question, ma'am. [00:21:57] Speaker 4: I don't know how to answer that question. Sorry. [00:22:00] Speaker 3: And before you said that, if you turn just one page back to page 112, what Mr. Diggs said to you that you were responding to was, I'mma leave you be. Thank you for cooking for me for this season. I appreciate you. Hate it even got to this. That's what you were responding to when you told him he would be paying you out for the season, right? [00:22:28] Speaker 4: No, it's the other full context of those messages. [00:22:31] Speaker 3: Ma'am, was the message that came from Mr. Diggs that preceded your demand that you be paid out for the season. Thank you for cooking for me this season. I appreciate you. I'mma leave you be. [00:22:47] Speaker 4: Can you say that again? [00:22:49] Speaker 3: You can look right down there on page 112. I'mma leave you be. [00:22:56] Speaker 4: What was your question? [00:22:57] Speaker 3: I'm not finished. Thank you for cooking for me for this season. You can read along and correct me if I get it wrong. I appreciate you. Hate it even got like this. Right? [00:23:13] Speaker 4: That's what it says, yes. Okay. [00:23:16] Speaker 3: And you were really hoping that Mr. Diggs would give you some money so you could open your own restaurant, weren't you? Objection. [00:23:25] Speaker 4: That was our agreement. [00:23:27] Speaker 3: That was what you wanted him to give you, right? [00:23:30] Speaker 4: That was an agreement. [00:23:32] Speaker 3: Ma'am, is this a contract suit? [00:23:35] Speaker 4: Objection. [00:23:36] Speaker 3: This is an assault. That objection is sustained. Witness doesn't have to answer. Withdrawn, Your Honor. Thank you. There's no question in front of the witness. You wanted him to pay you to open your own restaurant, right? I wanted him to pay me past wages. [00:23:51] Speaker 4: Okay. [00:23:52] Speaker 3: Just one moment, Your Honor, please. [00:24:06] Speaker 2: No further questions, Your Honor. Thank you. [00:24:08] Speaker 5: Anything else? [00:24:09] Speaker 1: No redirect, Your Honor. Thank you, Ma'am. [00:24:11] Speaker 5: You may step down. Commonwealth calls Kenneth Ellis. Thank you, Ma'am. [00:24:14] Speaker ?: You may step down. Commonwealth calls Kenneth Ellis of the definite lease.