On Friday afternoon, a Los Angeles jury will start debating the sexual harassment trial of Harvey Weinstein, a former movie producer who’s accused of utilizing his Hollywood affect to lure girls into personal conferences and assault them.
The jurors have been briefed on the legislation and have been supposed to start deliberations after the prosecutors filed a rebuttal.
“Rapists rape. You’ll be able to take a look at the pattern,” prosecutor Paul Thompson advised jurors.
“You’ve got irrefutable, irrefutable proof about this man’s character and what he did to those girls,” Thompson mentioned, urging the jury to “do the fitting factor” and “discover justice for these girls.”
The protection argued that the allegations have been both fabricated or occurred by mutual consent, stressing that there was no proof of the allegations.
Weinstein, 70, has been charged with two counts of forcible rape and 5 counts of sexual assault involving 4 girls — a mannequin, dancer, masseur and producer. He pleaded not responsible to the seven prices towards him.
If discovered responsible, Weinstein might face 60 years to life in jail, plus one other 5 years.
Weinstein was convicted of prison sexual activity and third-degree rape in New York Metropolis in 2020 and sentenced to 23 years in jail.
Thursday ended closing protection and prosecution arguments, bringing the Los Angeles case nearer to sentencing after trial started in late October.
All through the trial, jurors heard about 50 witnesses, together with 4 accusers who have been recognized in court docket as Jane Doe as a result of nature of their statements.
4 different girls testified that that they had skilled related conduct from Weinstein. These alleged incidents will not be charged on this case as they occurred exterior of Los Angeles County.
On Thursday, protection lawyer Alan Jackson requested jurors if they might “settle for what (Jane does) is true.”
“The 5 phrases that sum up the whole prosecution case are: Take my phrase for it,” Jackson mentioned. “Take my phrase for it, he confirmed up in my lodge room unannounced. Take my phrase for it, I confirmed up in his lodge room. Take my phrase for it, I did not agree. Take my phrase for it, I mentioned no.
On Wednesday, the prosecution made closing arguments, with Los Angeles County Deputy District Lawyer Marlene Martinez calling Weinstein a “titan” who used his energy in Hollywood to prey on girls and silence them.
“The reality is that if you are sitting right here, we’re conscious of the despicable conduct of the defendant. He thought he was so robust that folks would… excuse his conduct. It is simply Harvey Harvey. It is simply Hollywood. They usually’ve been doing it for thus lengthy. Everybody simply turned their heads,” Martinez mentioned.
“The time has come to finish the reign of the defendants of terror and it’s time to deliver the kingmaker to justice,” she added.
Weinstein is presently going through a 23-year sentence after being convicted of prison sexual activity and third-degree rape in 2020 in New York Metropolis.
Remaining Arguments
The protection mentioned the feminine accusers are “seekers of fame and fortune,” declaring that a number of the Jane Does made up their tales whereas others benefited from a “transactional relationship” with Weinstein.
Jennifer Siebel Newsom, one of many accusers, a producer, actress and spouse of a California governor, testified that Weinstein raped her in 2005. Sibel Newsom described the various hours of “cat and mouse” that preceded her alleged assault.
Weinstein’s protection doesn’t deny that the incident occurred, however they are saying he believed it was consensual.
Jackson described what occurred between Weinstein and Sibel Information as “consensual intercourse.”
“Remorse isn’t the identical as rape. And it is necessary that we make that distinction on this courtroom,” Jackson added.
Martinez, the prosecutor, mentioned the explanation Siebel Newsom stored contacting Weinstein after the alleged assault was as a result of his place within the trade on the time.
On Thursday, Martinez famous that the ladies knew it could be troublesome — “they will present up in court docket and[Weinstein’s]legal professionals will name them whores in open court docket for rape.”
“They knew they have been going to come back to court docket to have these protection legal professionals put them in entrance of witnesses to embarrass them,” she mentioned.
The-CNN-Wire
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