BOSTON (AP) 鈥� A woman who worked as a live-in personal chef for former declined to answer questions Tuesday about financial demands made on her behalf, as defense attorneys pressed her over claims she was owed money and inconsistencies in what she said she was paid.
Defense attorneys pressed Jamila 鈥淢ila鈥� Adams about money she said she was owed after working as a live-in chef. She testified she was paid about $2,000 a week and believed she had not been fully compensated after being sent home. They pointed to a $19,000 demand and said the amount increased over time, with her attorney later seeking $5.5 million.
Diggs has pleaded not guilty to a felony strangulation charge and a misdemeanor assault and battery charge stemming from a
When asked about the $5.5 million claim, Adams said, 鈥淚 can鈥檛 speak on that,鈥� and at other points told jurors, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 understand the question鈥� and 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know how to answer the question.鈥�
Defense attorneys also questioned Adams about a public statement she issued Feb. 13 in which she said, 鈥淚 have never sought money to settle this matter,鈥� and about hiring a lawyer by mid-April. Adams said she retained an attorney for a workers鈥� compensation claim, saying she believed she had been injured on the job.
They challenged her accounting of what she was owed, presenting records of payments and suggesting she had sought compensation for weeks she did not work. Adams said she had been confused about the amount and 鈥渟ent the incorrect amount,鈥� maintaining she believed she was owed money.
Prosecutors pushed back on the defense鈥檚 financial-motive argument鈥� Adams testified the dispute was about wages, not a settlement. She said her statement that she had 鈥渘ever sought money to settle this matter鈥� referred to the criminal case and that she later retained an attorney for a workers鈥� compensation claim after she was injured on the job.
At times during her second day on the stand, Adams was instructed by the judge to answer questions directly and not include additional details beyond what was asked. Portions of her responses were struck from the record as nonresponsive, with jurors told to disregard them.
鈥淭his is not an opportunity for you to interject your own narrative,鈥� Judge Jeanmarie Carroll, told her at one point, warning that continued nonresponsive answers could result in her testimony being stricken.
Kenneth Ellis, the Dedham police officer who took Adams鈥� initial report about the assault, testified that she arrived at the station visibly upset, telling jurors she 鈥渟at down on the bench and she was crying.鈥� The officer said Adams initially asked to speak with a female officer before later agreeing to give a statement and identifying Diggs as the person involved.
The officer said he did not observe visible injuries, collect photographs or speak with other witnesses, and that his investigation relied largely on Adams鈥� account and text messages she provided.
The testimony followed sharply conflicting accounts presented to jurors a day earlier.
Adams testified Monday that Diggs 鈥渟macked me with an open hand鈥� before wrapping his arm around her neck and choking her, leaving her struggling to breathe. She described what she called a 鈥渃omplicated鈥� relationship, saying it had previously been sexual but was not at the time of the alleged assault. She said she lived in his home, preparing meals and snacks, and had known him for more than four years.
Defense attorneys told jurors the alleged attack never happened, pointing to a lack of medical records, photos or video documenting injuries and saying no one else in the home reported seeing or hearing anything unusual. They also suggested Adams had a financial motive.
Prosecutors say the case centers on what happened on Dec. 2, when they allege Diggs entered Adams鈥� bedroom, slapped her and put her in a headlock that made it difficult to breathe.
A jury was seated Monday in Norfolk County District Court in Dedham.
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