The choose in Harvey Weinstein’s intercourse crimes case declared a mistrial on the remaining rape cost after the jury foreperson mentioned he wouldn’t proceed deliberating.
Deliberations had been ended Thursday, a day after the jury delivered a partial verdict in Weinstein’s intercourse crimes retrial, convicting the ex-studio boss of one of many prime fees however acquitted him of one other. Both of these fees involved accusations of forcing oral intercourse on ladies in 2006. Those verdicts nonetheless stand.
The jury received caught on a 3rd cost involving accusations from Jessica Mann. The hairstylist and actor testified for days — as she did in 2020 — in regards to 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.
Mann is able to go to trial a 3rd time, mentioned Manhattan prosecutor Nicole Blumberg after the choose ended deliberations. No new trial date has but been set.
The foreperson complained Wednesday that he felt bullied by one other juror and mentioned Thursday he wouldn’t return into the jury room.
“No. I’m sorry,” he mentioned when requested.
The jury of seven ladies and 5 males had unanimously reached choices on the opposite fees final Friday, the foreperson advised the choose. The verdict was delivered Wednesday solely as a result of Judge Curtis Farber requested whether or not there was settlement on any of the costs.
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The third cost was over a rape accusation involving a lady who additionally mentioned she had a consensual relationship with the Oscar-winning producer. Under New York legislation, the third-degree rape cost carries a lesser penalty than the opposite two counts.
Weinstein denies all the costs. In an uncommon alternate with the choose 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 considerations in regards to the proceedings.
“I can’t be judged by a situation that’s going on like this,” mentioned Weinstein, 73, saying the choose 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 costs.
The man raised considerations once more Wednesday. In a closed-door dialogue with prosecutors, protection attorneys and the choose, 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 outside.”
“I feel afraid inside there,” the foreperson advised the choose and attorneys, in keeping with a transcript.
Weinstein’s preliminary conviction 5 years in the past appeared to cement the downfall of certainly one of Hollywood’s strongest males in a pivotal second for the #MeToo motion towards sexual misconduct.
But 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 pressure them into sexual encounters.
His defence portrayed his accusers as Hollywood wannabes and hangers-on who willingly attached with him to courtroom 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 exterior courtroom Wednesday that the brand new verdict “gives me hope.”
Accuser Kaja Sokola additionally known as it “a big win for everyone,” though Weinstein was acquitted of forcibly performing oral intercourse on her when she was a 19-year-old style mannequin. Her allegation was added to the case after the retrial was ordered.
Weinstein additionally was convicted of raping one other girl in California. He’s interesting that conviction.
The Associated Press usually doesn’t title individuals who say they’ve been sexually assaulted, until they comply with be recognized. Haley, Mann and Sokola did so.
© 2025 The Canadian Press