Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced former Hollywood film producer, has been found guilty of raping a woman by a Los Angeles court.
The trial took place over two-months, and heard how Weinstein used his power and influence to lure women into private meetings before attacking them. The 70-year-old will face up to 24 years in prison at sentencing. Weinstein is already serving 23 years having been convicted of rape and sexual assault at his first trial in New York two years ago.
Weinstein was found guilty on charges of rape and two sexual assault charges against the accuser Jane Doe 1. The jury could reach a verdict on allegations put forward by Jane Doe 2 or by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, wife of California Governor Gavin Newsom, meaning a mistrial was declared on those counts. Weinstein was acquitted of sexual battery against an accuser known as Jane Doe 3.
Weinstein, who co-founded Miramax and produced films such as Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare in Love, was not using a wheelchair as he had done in previous court appearances. He is said to have looked down having heard the guilty verdict on count one.
The Los Angeles trial focused on allegations by four women stemming from 2005-13, though dozens of other women gave witness statements to the court.
The jury consisted of eight men and four women and spent nine days deliberating the charges.
The woman whom Weinstein was convicted of raping, Jane Doe 1, was a Russian-born model, who testified she was in Los Angeles for an Italian film festival in February 2013 when the attack took place. Weinstein arrived at her Beverly Hills hotel room and raped her.
“Harvey Weinstein forever destroyed a part of me that night in 2013 and I will never get that back. The criminal trial was brutal and Weinstein’s lawyers put me through hell on the witness stand, but I knew I had to see this through to the end, and I did.
“I hope Weinstein never sees the outside of a prison cell during his lifetime.”
Ms Siebel Newsom, California’s first lady, testified how she was a documentary filmmaker when she was raped by Weinstein in a hotel room in 2005.
“Throughout the trial, Weinstein’s lawyers used sexism, misogyny, and bullying tactics to intimidate, demean, and ridicule us survivors.
“The trial was a stark reminder that we as a society have work to do.”
The trial took place over two-months, and heard how Weinstein used his power and influence to lure women into private meetings before attacking them. The 70-year-old will face up to 24 years in prison at sentencing. Weinstein is already serving 23 years having been convicted of rape and sexual assault at his first trial in New York two years ago.
Weinstein was found guilty on charges of rape and two sexual assault charges against the accuser Jane Doe 1. The jury could reach a verdict on allegations put forward by Jane Doe 2 or by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, wife of California Governor Gavin Newsom, meaning a mistrial was declared on those counts. Weinstein was acquitted of sexual battery against an accuser known as Jane Doe 3.
Weinstein, who co-founded Miramax and produced films such as Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare in Love, was not using a wheelchair as he had done in previous court appearances. He is said to have looked down having heard the guilty verdict on count one.
The Los Angeles trial focused on allegations by four women stemming from 2005-13, though dozens of other women gave witness statements to the court.
Jennifer Siebel Newsom, one of Weinstein’s accusers and California’s first lady
