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Harvey Weinstein guilty over sexual assaults | Harvey Weinstein guilty over sexual assaults |
(32 minutes later) | |
Former movie producer Harvey Weinstein has been found guilty of two counts in his sexual assault trial. | Former movie producer Harvey Weinstein has been found guilty of two counts in his sexual assault trial. |
Weinstein, 67, was convicted on lesser charges of third-degree rape and a criminal sexual act in the first degree and faces up to 25 years in prison. | |
But he was acquitted of the most serious charges of predatory sexual assault. He had denied all charges. | |
He still faces more charges in Los Angeles of rape and sexual assault of two women in 2013. | |
More than 80 women, including famous actresses, had accused him of sexual misconduct stretching back decades. | More than 80 women, including famous actresses, had accused him of sexual misconduct stretching back decades. |
What happened in court? | |
The jury of seven men and five women reached their verdict on Monday morning, the fifth day of deliberations. | The jury of seven men and five women reached their verdict on Monday morning, the fifth day of deliberations. |
He was convicted of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping Jessica Mann, a former aspiring actress, in 2013. | |
But the jury acquitted him on two counts of predatory sexual assault, which carried a potential life sentence, and first-degree rape of Mann. | |
In the minutes after the verdict, Weinstein showed no emotion as he talked to his lead lawyer Donna Rotunno. | |
But he judge ordered him to be sent to jail immediately. He was surrounded by court officers, handcuffed and led from the courtroom. | |
Weinstein had entered court before the verdict wearing a navy blue suit and leaning on a walking frame. | |
The case was at the centre of the #MeToo movement that inspired women to go public with misconduct allegations against powerful men. | The case was at the centre of the #MeToo movement that inspired women to go public with misconduct allegations against powerful men. |
Weinstein shot to fame with critically acclaimed films such as Pulp Fiction, The English Patient and Shakespeare in Love. | Weinstein shot to fame with critically acclaimed films such as Pulp Fiction, The English Patient and Shakespeare in Love. |
What were the allegations? | |
Ms Haleyi, who had worked on one of Weinstein's television productions, said she was assaulted by the producer after he invited her to his Lower Manhattan home. | Ms Haleyi, who had worked on one of Weinstein's television productions, said she was assaulted by the producer after he invited her to his Lower Manhattan home. |
She testified that he backed her into a bedroom, held her down on the bed and forced himself on her. | She testified that he backed her into a bedroom, held her down on the bed and forced himself on her. |
Ms Mann said that she found herself in an "extremely degrading" relationship with him that did not involve intercourse until he raped her in 2013. | Ms Mann said that she found herself in an "extremely degrading" relationship with him that did not involve intercourse until he raped her in 2013. |
She said he was a "Jekyll and Hyde" figure who could be charming in public but showed his dark side when they were alone. | She said he was a "Jekyll and Hyde" figure who could be charming in public but showed his dark side when they were alone. |
Another one of Weinstein's accusers, Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra, told jurors he raped her in her apartment one night in 1993 or 1994. | Another one of Weinstein's accusers, Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra, told jurors he raped her in her apartment one night in 1993 or 1994. |
Her allegation was too old to be charged as a separate crime, but prosecutors used it in an attempt to demonstrate that the accused was a repeat sexual offender. | Her allegation was too old to be charged as a separate crime, but prosecutors used it in an attempt to demonstrate that the accused was a repeat sexual offender. |
During the trial, prosecutors portrayed Weinstein as a serial predator who had used his position of power in Hollywood to manipulate and violently attack women. | During the trial, prosecutors portrayed Weinstein as a serial predator who had used his position of power in Hollywood to manipulate and violently attack women. |
Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast said during opening arguments: "The man seated right there was not just a titan in Hollywood, he was a rapist." | Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast said during opening arguments: "The man seated right there was not just a titan in Hollywood, he was a rapist." |
But the defence team suggested the producer's accusers were disgruntled actresses. | But the defence team suggested the producer's accusers were disgruntled actresses. |
Weinstein's lawyer, Donna Rotunno, told jurors in closing arguments they were "the last line of defence" against an "overzealous" prosecution. | Weinstein's lawyer, Donna Rotunno, told jurors in closing arguments they were "the last line of defence" against an "overzealous" prosecution. |
How did we get here? | How did we get here? |
Weinstein was once one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood, with dozens of Academy Award wins for his films. | Weinstein was once one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood, with dozens of Academy Award wins for his films. |
Allegations started to emerge about him in October 2017. The story was broken by the New York Times, which published details of decades of alleged incidents of harassment. | Allegations started to emerge about him in October 2017. The story was broken by the New York Times, which published details of decades of alleged incidents of harassment. |
Weinstein issued an apology acknowledging he had "caused a lot of pain", but disputed the allegations. | Weinstein issued an apology acknowledging he had "caused a lot of pain", but disputed the allegations. |
Over the coming weeks, dozens more allegations emerged and Weinstein was sacked by the board of his company. | Over the coming weeks, dozens more allegations emerged and Weinstein was sacked by the board of his company. |
Despite continuing to deny all allegations of non-consensual sex, he was all but banished from Hollywood. | Despite continuing to deny all allegations of non-consensual sex, he was all but banished from Hollywood. |
Allegations against him helped drive the #MeToo campaign against sexual misconduct, where victims shared their experiences of assault and harassment. | Allegations against him helped drive the #MeToo campaign against sexual misconduct, where victims shared their experiences of assault and harassment. |
Some criminal investigations were launched but he was not charged until May 2018, when he turned himself in to police in New York. | Some criminal investigations were launched but he was not charged until May 2018, when he turned himself in to police in New York. |