NEW YORK — After a partial verdict in a chaotic day at Harvey Weinstein ‘s intercourse crimes retrial, jurors are due Thursday to return to deliberations on a remaining cost – if the foreperson will take part.
The jury delivered its partial verdict Wednesday, convicting the ex-studio boss of one of many high fees however acquitting him of one other. Each fees concern accusations of forcing oral intercourse on girls in 2006.
The jury of seven girls and 5 males unanimously reached these choices final Friday, the foreperson later advised the decide. The decision was delivered Wednesday solely as a result of Decide Curtis Farber requested whether or not there was settlement on any of the fees.
The group was caught on the third cost: a rape accusation involving a girl who additionally mentioned she had a consensual relationship with the Oscar-winning producer. Below New York legislation, the third-degree rape cost carries a lesser penalty than the opposite two counts.
Weinstein denies all the fees. In an uncommon trade with the decide throughout some authorized arguments earlier than the partial verdict was disclosed Wednesday, he insisted it was unfair to proceed the trial after two jurors got here ahead with issues concerning the proceedings.
“I am unable to be judged by a state of affairs that is happening like this,” mentioned Weinstein, 73, saying the decide was “endangering” him.
Jury-room strains began leaking into public view Friday, when a juror requested to be excused as a result of he felt one other was being handled unfairly. Then Monday, the foreperson complained that different jurors had been pushing folks to vary their minds and speaking about data past the fees.
The person raised issues once more Wednesday. In a closed-door dialogue with prosecutors, protection legal professionals and the decide, the foreperson mentioned one other juror was yelling at him for sticking to his opinion and at one level vowed, “You going to see me outdoors.”
“I really feel afraid inside there,” the foreperson advised the decide and attorneys, in accordance with a transcript.
The decide despatched the jury dwelling for the day after the partial verdict, however the foreperson later requested to come back again and recapped his issues to Farber in court docket. The foreperson mentioned he was keen to return Thursday, with Farber saying the person would not be pressured to enter the jury room if he did not wish to.
It is unclear how deliberations may proceed if that occurs, and it is equally unsure what the court docket would then do.
Weinstein’s preliminary conviction 5 years in the past appeared to cement the downfall of one among Hollywood’s strongest males in a pivotal second for the #MeToo motion towards sexual misconduct.
However that conviction was overturned final yr, and the case was despatched again for retrial in the identical Manhattan courthouse.
Weinstein’s accusers mentioned he exploited his Tinseltown affect to dangle profession assist, get them alone after which lure and power them into sexual encounters.
His protection portrayed his accusers as Hollywood wannabes and hangers-on who willingly attached with him to court docket alternative, then later mentioned they had been victimized to gather settlement funds and #MeToo approbation.
Miriam Haley, the producer and manufacturing assistant whom Weinstein was convicted – twice, now – of sexually assaulting, mentioned outdoors court docket Wednesday that the brand new verdict “offers me hope.”
Accuser Kaja Sokola additionally known as it “an enormous win for everybody,” regardless that Weinstein was acquitted of forcibly performing oral intercourse on her when she was a 19-year-old trend mannequin. Her allegation was added to the case after the retrial was ordered.
The third accuser, Jessica Mann, was nonetheless ready for an final result. The hairstylist and actor testified for days – as she did in 2020 – concerning the rape she mentioned she endured in a Manhattan resort room and about why she continued to see and have consensual encounters with Weinstein afterward.
“Rape can occur in relationships – and in dynamics the place energy and manipulation management the narrative,” Mann mentioned in an announcement Wednesday.
Weinstein additionally was convicted of raping one other lady in California. He is interesting that conviction.
The Related Press typically doesn’t title individuals who say they’ve been sexually assaulted, except they comply with be recognized. Haley, Mann and Sokola did so.
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