CNN
—
Weinstein is accused of utilizing his Hollywood affect to lure ladies into non-public conferences and assault them. In Los Angeles, he faces two counts of forcible rape and 5 counts of sexual assault involving 4 ladies – a mannequin, a dancer, a therapeutic massage therapist and a producer. Weinstein has pleaded not responsible to all costs towards him.
Jurors started deliberations Friday and, as of Wednesday, have deliberated for about 15 and a half hours. They may proceed at 9:30 a.m. PT (12:30 p.m. ET) Thursday.
After listening to weeks of testimony from dozens of witnesses, the women and men of the jury are working to resolve whether or not to search out Weinstein responsible of two counts of forcible rape and 5 counts of sexual assault involving 4 ladies – a mannequin, a dancer, a therapeutic massage therapist and a producer.
Weinstein – who’s accused of utilizing his Hollywood affect to lure ladies into non-public conferences and assault them – has pleaded not responsible to all costs towards him.
At trial, 4 of the unique 11 costs towards Weinstein tied to one of many Jane Does had been dropped with out rationalization.
If the jury finds him responsible, the previous film producer may face 60 years to life in jail, plus a further 5 years.
Weinstein’s publicist, Juda Engelmayer, advised CNN the previous producer is in a detention facility’s medical unit, and is anxious however “hoping for the perfect.”
The trial in Los Angeles included testimony from the 4 accusers recognized as Jane Does in courtroom, and different witnesses, together with specialists, legislation enforcement, buddies of accusers and former aides to Weinstein.
Moreover, 4 ladies testified they had been subjected to comparable incidents by Weinstein in different jurisdictions.
All of the accusers had been requested in courtroom to recount the main points of their allegations towards Weinstein, present particulars of conferences with the producer from years in the past and clarify their reactions to the alleged assaults.
Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a filmmaker and the spouse of California Gov. Gavin Newsom – recognized by her attorneys as Jane Doe 4 – alleged Weinstein raped her in a lodge room in 2005.
In closing arguments Wednesday, Los Angeles County Deputy District Lawyer Marlene Martinez known as Weinstein a “titan” who used his energy in Hollywood to prey on and silence ladies.
“Rapists rape. You’ll be able to take a look at the sample,” fellow prosecutor Paul Thompson advised jurors.
“You will have irrefutable, overwhelming proof in regards to the nature of this man and what he did to those ladies,” Thompson stated.
In the meantime, Weinstein’s attorneys have maintained the allegations are both fabricated or occurred consensually as a part of a “transactional relationship” with the film producer, repeatedly saying there isn’t a proof of assault.
Protection legal professional Alan Jackson known as the accusers “fame and fortune seekers.”
Every morning at trial, Weinstein was introduced from a correctional facility and wheeled into the Los Angeles courtroom carrying a swimsuit and tie and holding a composition pocket book.
His accusers all started their oftentimes emotional testimonies by figuring out him within the courtroom as he regarded on.
“He’s carrying a swimsuit, and a blue tie and he’s watching me,” Siebel Newsom stated final month, earlier than what was one of the crucial emotional moments of the trial.
On Thursday of final week, protection legal professional Jackson requested jurors if they might “settle for what (the Jane Does) say as gospel,” arguing what they stated was a scarcity of forensic proof supporting their declare.
“5 phrases that sum up the whole thing of the prosecution’s case: ‘Take my phrase for it,’” Jackson stated. “‘Take my phrase for it that he confirmed up at my lodge room unannounced. Take my phrase for it that I confirmed up at his lodge room. Take my phrase for it that I didn’t consent. Take my phrase for it, that I stated no.’ “
Siebel Newsom described an hourslong “cat-and-mouse interval,” which preceded her alleged assault. She, like different accusers, described feeling “frozen” that day.
Attorneys for Weinstein don’t deny the incident occurred, however stated he believed it was consensual.
Ladies’s rights lawyer Gloria Allred, who’s representing Jane Doe 2 within the case, advised CNN she hopes the jury sees her shopper “has no motive in any respect to do something however inform the reality.”
“She by no means sought or obtained any compensation … She doesn’t dwell in California anymore. However she is testifying as a result of she’s been requested to testify and I hope that they see her because the younger girl that she was when she met Harvey Weinstein, and the lady that she is in the present day roughly 9 to 10 years later. Her life has modified,” Allred stated.
“To be prepared to topic your self to what may very well be a really brutal cross-examination. That takes a really particular individual to try this. And he or she is a particular individual. I’m very proud,” Allred stated.
In her closing arguments, Martinez additionally highlighted the ladies who testified selected to take action regardless of figuring out they’d face robust circumstances in courtroom.
“The reality is that, as you sit right here, we all know the despicable habits the defendant engaged in. He thought he was so highly effective that individuals would … excuse his habits,” Martinez stated. “That’s simply Harvey being Harvey. That’s simply Hollywood. And for thus lengthy that’s what everybody did. Everybody simply turned their heads.”
