Film producer Harvey Weinstein was found guilty of three new rape charges. The verdict was announced on Monday (12/19), after a two-month trial in a Los Angeles court in the United States.
The jury found that he should be criminally liable for the offenses of rape, forced oral copulation and sexual penetration by a foreign object, committed against one of four accusers, whose names were not disclosed at trial – they are identified in the trial like Jane Doe.
However, the jury found Weinstein not guilty on another charge and failed to reach a verdict in the other cases, including the case of Jane Doe 3, who I identify in trial as the First Lady of California, Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
The jury will return on Tuesday (12/13) to hear arguments about aggravating circumstances in reaching a sentence. Weinstein faces the maximum sentence of 18 years in prison, which could be increased to 24 years depending on how the jury decides on these factors.
Weinstein is already serving a previous 23-year prison sentence, also for rape, resulting from a trial in New York.
The current trial in California has been marked by the rude tactics of Weinstein’s lawyer, Mark Werksman, who decided to call victims of the producer’s abuse “sluts”. Seeking to justify his client’s actions, he asked the jury to consider that sexual harassment is part of Hollywood culture. According to Werksman, what Weinstein did was not rape but “transactional sex,” something he said was common in the US film industry.
“During the trial, Weinstein’s lawyers used tactics of sexism, misogyny and intimidation to attack, belittle and ridicule us survivors. This trial was a stark reminder that we, as a society, have work to do. Listen up and I’m with you,” Siebel Newsom said in a statement about the verdict.
The first allegations against Weinstein recently resulted in a film, “She Said”, which was released less than two weeks ago in theaters in Brazil.
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Source: Terra
Amanda Larkin is a celebrity journalist at Gossipify, known for her in-depth interviews and unique perspectives on the entertainment industry. She covers celebrity news and gossip, providing readers with engaging and informative content, and understanding of the inner workings of the industry. She’s respected for keeping readers up to date with the latest trends and providing a fresh perspective on the celebrity world.
