Stefon Diggs assault trial (live video): Prosecutor’s office and defense rest cases on day 2

The personal chef who accused Diggs of assault and attempted strangulation returned to the witness stand for questioning before the prosecution concluded its case on the second day of the trial. Diggs’ attorneys then called several witnesses before resting.

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Judge Jeanmarie Carroll announced a break until 2 p.m., when closing arguments are expected to begin, followed by jury instructions.

Watch live: Trial of former Patriots star Stefon Diggs continues

Jamila Adams, Diggs’ former personal chef, was the first witness called by prosecutors on Monday. She remained under questioning by the defense Tuesday morning, who continued to question her credibility and version of events.

Defense attorneys pressed Jamila “Mila” Adams about money she said she was owed after working as a live-in chef. She testified that she was paid about $2,000 a week and believed she had not received full compensation after being sent home. They noted a demand for $19,000 and said the amount increased over time, and that their attorney later asked for $5.5 million.

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When asked about the $5.5 million claim, Adams said, “I can’t talk about that,” and at other times told jurors, “I don’t understand the question” and “I don’t know how to answer the question.”

Defense attorneys also questioned Adams about a public statement he issued on Feb. 13 in which he said, “I have never sought money to resolve this matter” and about hiring an attorney in mid-April. Adams said he hired an attorney for a workers’ compensation claim, saying he believed he had been injured on the job.

They questioned his accounting of what he was owed, presented payment records and suggested he had requested compensation for the weeks he did not work. Adams said she was confused about the amount and “sent the wrong amount,” maintaining that she believed she was owed money.

Prosecutors rejected the defense’s argument about financial motive: Adams testified that the dispute was about wages, not a settlement. He said his statement that he had “never sought money to settle this matter” was in reference to the criminal case and that he later hired an attorney for a workers’ compensation claim after he was injured on the job.

At times during his second day on the bench, the judge ordered Adams to answer questions directly and not include additional details beyond what he was asked. Portions of his answers were struck from the record for being unresponsive, and jurors were asked to ignore them.

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“This is not an opportunity for you to introduce your own narrative,” Judge Carroll told him at one point, warning him that if he continued to respond without responding, his testimony could be affected.

Diggs is accused of assaulting and attempting to strangle Adams inside their Dedham home in December. He has pleaded not guilty.

On the first day of testimony, Diggs rushed into court without speaking to reporters.

Under questioning by prosecutors, Adams became emotional as she described the alleged assault and said Diggs began choking her. She testified that the incident at her Dedham home on Dec. 2, 2025, occurred after a heated text message exchange between the two about payments she said she was owed.

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Defense attorneys have rejected Adams’ account, arguing that the assault never happened. They noted that Adams did not take photographs of any alleged bruises or marks and did not reveal to police that she and Diggs were involved in what they described as an intimate relationship.

The defense also noted that Adams was upset about being excluded from a trip to Miami and suggested that anger may have influenced her accusations.

Boston attorney Elyse Hershon, a legal analyst, said the defense aggressively highlighted inconsistencies in Adams’ testimony.

“We have to look at why he would lie about this, and the defense is bringing information to light,” Hershon said. “She deleted text messages before going to the police and it showed an angry exchange between her and Diggs. That doesn’t look good. So one thing that doesn’t look good is something the defense will use in their closing: actually saying that you can’t believe her, that you can’t trust her, that she lied, that she just wanted money.”

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The trial is expected to last one or two more days.

The jury met on Monday.

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