*this report was updated at 16:53 pm with the conviction
More than five years ago, reports of sexual abuse committed by Harvey Weinstein – even against famous actresses – encouraged women to speak publicly about their own experiences with sexual violence, in what became known as the movement #MeToo .
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Harvey Weinstein, now 70 years old, has already won an Oscar, but is now serving a 23-year sentence for sexual assault in a case concluded in 2020, in New York. With the conviction in Los Angeles, he faces another 16 years in prison.
For a month, the 12 members of the jury heard women, who at the time were looking to build a career in the world of entertainment, accuse the movie mogul of cornering them and abusing them in hotel rooms.
Weinstein, whose defense appealed the charges in both states where he was tried, was found guilty on December 19 in a Los Angeles court of rape, forced oral sex and forced penetration with an object. The victim's identity was preserved by the court.
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The women, including the now First Lady of California, Jennifer Siebel-Newsom, detailed sexual encounters against their will and under physical or psychological coercion.
Accusers argued that the producer exploited and abused women for years, benefiting from the impunity provided by his powerful position in the entertainment industry.
The Prosecutor's Office characterized him as a sexual predator who used his influence to pressure and abuse women, also taking advantage of his physical size to intimidate them.
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The jury found him guilty of sexually abusing one of the women, but acquitted him of assault charges made by a second woman and could not reach a consensus on charges related to two other plaintiffs, including Siebel-Newsom.
The story became a film
The sexual scandal in Hollywood and the journalistic work of Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, reporters for the New York Times, became a film: “She said”, released in US cinemas in November 2022.
Harvey's defense tried to mistrial
Thursday's session began with a hearing on a defense motion asking for a new trial or a reduced verdict.
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Court documents seen by AFP state that Weinstein's lawyers were prevented from receiving important evidence about the rape victim, including Facebook messages with an alleged lover, considered irrelevant by the courts. The defense's request was denied.
(Source: AFP)
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