At 70, the film producer is already serving a 23-year sentence after being convicted in New York in 2020 for similar crimes. After the verdict in Los Angeles, he faces up to 24 more years in prison.
Divided verdict for Harvey Weinstein: The former Hollywood producer was found guilty of rape and two counts of sexual assault at the end of his trial in Los Angeles on Monday, December 19, just half of the charges he was charged with.
After two weeks of deliberation, the jury found him guilty on all charges of the first of the four accusers. They found him not guilty of the second wife’s allegations and issued no verdict on the other two’s allegations. Wearing a gray suit, the former movie giant buried his head in his hands as the sentencing was delivered.
The 70-year-old former ‘king’ of cinema who produced award-winning hits like pulp Fiction or The artistHe is already serving a 23-year sentence following his 2020 conviction in New York for similar offenses. After the verdict in Los Angeles, he faces up to 24 more years behind bars.
The press investigation that uncovered the first allegations in 2017 provoked #MeToo, a global movement to liberate women’s voices on gender-based and sexual violence.
“Harvey Weinstein destroyed a part of me forever” On Monday, the first victim, whom the jury found absolutely correct, reacted in a press release. Anonymously, like the other four plaintiffs, she hoped that he “He’s never seen the outside of a prison cell in his life.”
“A little fairness”
In this new trial, these four women accused the producer, in great detail, of forcing them to have sex in hotels in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles between 2004 and 2013. A fifth finally refused to testify.
After weeks of harrowing hearings, often punctuated by sobbing prosecutors, prosecutors had portrayed Mr. Weinstein as an all-powerful ogre, a “predator” his stranglehold on Hollywood — the films he has produced have garnered more than 330 Academy Award nominations and 81 statuettes — has long kept his victims from speaking out for fear of professional repercussions.
Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon regretted the jury’s half-hearted decision. “I’m obviously disappointed that the jury was split on some counts, but I hope their partial verdict brings at least some justice to the victims.”he responded in a press release.
The verdict of this new trial in Los Angeles was particularly important for the ex-producer. After an initial denial of justice, the New York Supreme Court finally authorized him in August to appeal his 2020 conviction, a first decision that had been a major victory for the #MeToo movement.
In all, nearly 90 women, including Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Rosanna Arquette, have accused Harvey Weinstein of molestation, sexual assault or rape. But the statute of limitations has been exceeded in many of these cases, some dating back to 1977. The ex-producer is also facing charges of sexual assault in the UK dating back to 1996.
