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Reporting 5 years in the past on Harvey Weinstein’s alleged sexual abuse spurred girls to talk publicly about their very own experiences with sexual violence in what turned generally known as the #MeToo motion.
Now, in a Los Angeles courtroom, eight girls are set to testify in a trial altogether much like the one which led to Weinstein’s landmark conviction two years in the past.
Weinstein, the 70-year-old film producer, has pleaded not responsible to 11 prices primarily based on allegations of sexual assault at Los Angeles resorts between 2004 to 2013.
Opening statements within the trial started Monday and one girl has already testified about her alleged assault. Three extra girls are anticipated to testify on to the costs, and 4 different girls are anticipated to testify as “prior unhealthy acts” witnesses, that means their testimony isn’t instantly related to a cost however might be thought of as prosecutors attempt to present Weinstein had a sample in his conduct.
He was discovered responsible in New York in 2020 of first-degree prison sexual act and third-degree rape and was sentenced to 23 years in jail. He has appealed.
Right here’s what we all know concerning the girls set to testify within the California case and the costs related to their allegations primarily based on feedback from the prosecution, the protection and their testimony.
Weinstein is charged with forcible oral copulation and forcible rape of Jane Doe 4 between September 1, 2004, and September 30, 2005.
Jane Doe 4 has been recognized as Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a filmmaker and the spouse of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. In an announcement, her attorneys confirmed she could be testifying towards Weinstein in courtroom.
“Like many different girls, my consumer was sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein at a purported enterprise assembly that turned out to be a lure,” stated Beth Fegan, certainly one of Siebel Newsom’s attorneys. “She intends to testify at his trial to hunt some measure of justice for survivors and as a part of her life’s work to enhance the lives of girls.”
Siebel Newsom is a Stanford College graduate who has written, directed and produced a number of documentaries, together with “Miss Illustration,” “The Masks You Stay In” and “The Nice American Lie.” Throughout her time as California’s first accomplice, Siebel Newsom has advocated for working moms and launched initiatives centered on closing the gender pay hole, amongst different efforts.
In opening statements, prosecutor Paul Thompson stated the assault occurred when Siebel Newsom was a “powerless actor making an attempt to make her manner in Hollywood.” Weinstein invited her to “focus on her profession” on the Peninsula Lodge, and in a lodge room, he assaulted and raped her, the prosecutor stated.
Protection legal professional Mark Werksman countered that Siebel Newsom had consensual intercourse with Weinstein as a result of she needed his assist getting roles and producing movies.
Werksman additionally stated Weinstein donated to 2 of Gov. Newsom’s political races and that Siebel Newsom took her husband to a Weinstein occasion. “She introduced her husband to satisfy and occasion with the person who raped her. Who does that?” he requested.
Siebel Newsom has written concerning the incident with Weinstein in obscure phrases. In October 2017, only a day after The New York Instances printed its bombshell report on Weinstein, she wrote an opinion editorial for the Huffington Submit saying she believed the report as a result of she had an analogous expertise with Weinstein.
“I used to be naive, new to the business, and didn’t know learn how to cope with his aggressive advances ― work invites with a good friend late-night at The Toronto Movie Competition, and later an invite to satisfy with him a couple of position in The Peninsula Lodge, the place workers have been current after which impulsively disappeared like clockwork, leaving me alone with this extraordinarily highly effective and intimidating Hollywood legend,” she wrote.
Weinstein is charged with forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by overseas object and forcible rape of Jane Doe 1 on or about February 18, 2013, in Los Angeles County, based on the indictment.
Jane Doe 1 was a mannequin and actress who was married, had three kids and was residing in Italy in 2013. She speaks Russian, Italian and English, however her English was not superb on the time, she stated.
She was the primary witness to testify within the trial and stated she was staying in a lodge for the Los Angeles Italia Movie Competition when she obtained a name that Weinstein needed to see her. She testified she had met him beforehand in Rome.
He got here to her lodge room and tried to rape her, she testified.
“I needed to die. It was disgusting. It was humiliating, depressing. I didn’t battle,” she testified in courtroom. “I keep in mind how he was trying within the mirror and he was telling me to have a look at him. I want this by no means occurred to me.”
Years later, she informed her daughter concerning the assault in an try to attach along with her a couple of comparable concern, she testified. Jane Doe 1 then went to the police in October 2017 as a result of she promised her daughter she would, she testified.
Within the protection’s opening statements, Werksman stated she had fabricated the story and argued there was no proof he went to her lodge room. Beneath cross-examination, she acknowledged she had no proof to point out the jury that will show she was with Weinstein that night time and stated she couldn’t keep in mind all the pieces concerning the incident.
“I keep in mind rather a lot however I forgot rather a lot additionally,” she stated.
Weinstein is charged with sexual battery by restraint of Jane Doe 2 on or about February 19, 2013, in Los Angeles County.
Jane Doe 2 was a 23-year-old mannequin and aspiring screenwriter who had been modeling since she was 12, Thompson stated in opening statements.
She alleges she was assaulted in the course of the Los Angeles Italia Movie Competition, based on Thompson. She met with Weinstein at a restaurant on the Montage lodge and informed him she needed to be a screenwriter, the prosecutor stated. The assembly then moved to an area upstairs, and when Weinstein led her into a rest room, one other girl shut the door behind Jane Doe 2, the prosecutor stated.
Whereas she was trapped inside with Weinstein, he allegedly undid her gown, groped her and masturbated, the prosecutor stated.
The following day, she went to a pre-scheduled assembly with a Weinstein Firm worker and was suggested to go on “Venture Runway,” a Weinstein-produced actuality TV present.
Werksman, the protection legal professional, stated in opening statements that Jane Doe 2 fabricated her story and famous that she met with the Weinstein Firm worker the subsequent day.
Weinstein is charged with sexual battery by restraint of Jane Doe 3 on or about Might 11, 2010.
Jane Doe 3 was a licensed therapeutic massage therapist who usually labored with celebrities and athletes, Thompson stated.
In 2010, she massaged Weinstein after which went to the restroom to clean her arms, and he adopted her into the lavatory, backed her right into a nook, groped her and masturbated, Thompson stated.
Weinstein had recommended Jane Doe 3 might write a e book about her therapeutic massage work, Thompson stated, and afterward an aide to Weinstein paid her $200 for the therapeutic massage and put her in contact with Miramax’s e book division a couple of potential e book deal.
In distinction, Werksman argued that their sexual interplay was consensual and a part of an association. He stated that Jane Doe 3 gave him 4 extra massages after the alleged assault.
“She made a deal. Intercourse in trade for one thing of worth. Jane Doe 3 and Mr. Weinstein have been associates with advantages,” Werksman argued.
Weinstein is charged with 4 counts associated to Jane Doe 5: forcible oral copulation and forcible rape between November 3 and November 9, 2009, and forcible oral copulation and forcible rape on or about November 5, 2010, based on the indictment.
Nevertheless, prosecutors didn’t point out her or her accusations in opening statements of the trial, and neither did the protection. The present standing of those prices will not be clear.
“Whereas we’ve no remark right now, our workplace is tirelessly making certain all the victims on this case obtain justice,” the district legal professional’s workplace stated.
Like in his New York trial, Weinstein’s LA trial will function testimony from a number of “prior unhealthy acts” witnesses.
There are 4 of those witnesses on this case, recognized by their first title and preliminary. Every of those girls alleged they have been assaulted by Weinstein outdoors of LA jurisdiction.
In all, the protection argued these witnesses have been getting used solely to “confuse and overwhelm” the jury. Werksman defended Weinstein’s actions as a part of the “casting sofa” tradition on the time.
The prosecution stated the testimony from these girls will show Weinstein’s guilt on the costs.
“Every of those girls got here ahead unbiased of one another, and none of them knew each other,” Thompson informed the jury.
Ambra B. went to Weinstein’s workplace for a gathering in Manhattan in 2015 and he grabbed her breast and put his hand up her skirt, prosecutors stated. She reported the incident to the NYPD, which then directed her to talk with him on the telephone and at a lodge restaurant and secretly report their conversations, based on Thompson. No prices have been filed towards Weinstein.
Werksman argued nothing on the recording was tantamount to a confession and dismissed her as somebody taking part in a “junior G-man” in an undercover sting concentrating on Weinstein.
Ashley M., a dancer within the film “Soiled Dancing: Havana Nights,” was alone in a lodge room with Weinstein in 2003 and stated he groped her and masturbated on her, based on Thompson.
Werksman argued she didn’t resist or refuse the interplay on the time.
Natassia M. met Weinstein and briefly interacted with him at an business occasion for the 2008 British Academy of Movie and Tv Arts Awards and alleges he raped her at her lodge, based on Thompson.
Werksman stated there was no proof of rape and notes they maintained contact for years afterward.
Kelly S. was an actor in 1991 when, in a lodge room for the Toronto Worldwide Movie Competition, Weinstein raped her, Thompson stated. In 2008, on the identical pageant, she went to his lodge room with the intention of confronting him, and when he allegedly began groping her and masturbating, she left the room, the prosecutor stated.
Werksman attacked the concept that she didn’t confront him instantly upon seeing him once more in 2008 and stated she didn’t report the incident to police till 2018.
Correction: An earlier model of this story incorrectly reported Harvey Weinstein was arrested within the alleged incident involving Ambra B.
