Defense, prosecution rest in Batali sexual misconduct trial

BOSTON — Attorneys for each the protection and prosecution rested Tuesday in celeb chef Mario Batali’s sexual misconduct trial in Boston.

The second day of the trial in Boston Municipal Court docket resumed with testimony from a good friend of the lady who says the previous Meals Community star kissed and groped her whereas she tried to take a selfie at a Boston bar in 2017.

The protection didn’t name any witnesses and Batali didn’t testify in his protection. Attorneys are anticipated to ship their closing arguments later Tuesday and the case will likely be handed to the decide for a verdict.

In an uncommon transfer, Batali waived his proper to a jury trial when the proceedings opened Monday.

Batali’s accuser, a 32-year-old software program firm employee, testified Monday that she’d felt confused, powerless and embarrassed to share her story till different girls stepped ahead to share comparable encounters with Batali.

However Batali’s lawyer sought to discredit her, arguing that the assault by no means occurred.

He stated the accuser has a monetary incentive to lie as she’s searching for greater than $50,000 in damages from Batali in a separate civil lawsuit.

Batali, who pleaded not responsible to indecent assault and battery in 2019, may withstand 2 1/2 years in jail and be required to register as a intercourse offender if convicted.

The 61-year-old, who was as soon as a fixture on reveals like “Molto Mario” and “Iron Chef America,” is amongst quite a lot of high-profile males who’ve confronted a public reckoning throughout the #MeToo social motion towards sexual abuse and harassment lately.