Revelations about the former film mogul in 2017 led to the emergence of the #MeToo movement. Now Harvey Weinstein has been found guilty again of sex crimes in the USA.
In the dock: Harvey Weinstein (stock photo)
In the criminal trial of Harvey Weinstein, a jury in California found the former US film producer on three counts of sex crimes, including rape found guilty. He was acquitted of one charge, but there was no agreement on three other charges, as the jury informed the Los Angeles court after ten days of deliberations.
The allegations come from four women. In the process, which lasted several weeks, they described drastic details, sometimes in tears. Most of the crimes are believed to have taken place in hotels in Beverly Hills between 2004 and 2013.
“Degenerate Rapist”
The plaintiffs had consensual sex with Weinstein in order to get ahead in Hollywood, the now 70-year-old's defense lawyers emphasized. Prosecutors, however, had portrayed the accused as a “degenerate rapist” who used his power to prey on women and act like a predator.
On the witness stand: Jennifer Siebel (court drawing)
Among the plaintiffs was Jennifer Siebel, now the wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. As an aspiring actress and producer, she wanted to talk to Weinstein about professional projects in 2005, but was raped by him in a hotel room, she testified on the witness stand. However, the jury was unable to reach the required unanimous verdict on the two counts involving Siebel.
Milestone in legal history
Weinstein is already serving a 23-year sentence after being sentenced in 2020 in New York was convicted of rape and aggravated sexual assault. His legal team recently appealed that ruling. A decision on this is still pending.
The first lawsuit against the once celebrated maker of successful films such as “Pulp Fiction” and “Shakespeare in Love” marked a milestone in legal history. The case had triggered the #MeToo movement at the time. Since 2017, more than 80 women, including Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Salma Hayek, have made serious allegations against Weinstein.
wa/bru (dpa, rtr, afp)
< h2>“She said” – the women who fought back against Weinstein (10/24/2022)