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Harvey Weinstein guilty over sexual assaults | Harvey Weinstein guilty over sexual assaults |
(32 minutes later) | |
Harvey Weinstein has been found guilty of sexual assault, capping a stunning downfall for the former Hollywood mogul and a victory for the #MeToo movement against harassment. | Harvey Weinstein has been found guilty of sexual assault, capping a stunning downfall for the former Hollywood mogul and a victory for the #MeToo movement against harassment. |
Weinstein, 67, was convicted in New York City of third-degree rape and first-degree criminal sexual act. | Weinstein, 67, was convicted in New York City of third-degree rape and first-degree criminal sexual act. |
But he was cleared of the most serious count of predatory sexual assault. He faces up to 25 years in prison. | But he was cleared of the most serious count of predatory sexual assault. He faces up to 25 years in prison. |
He still faces charges in Los Angeles of assaulting two women in 2013. | He still faces charges in Los Angeles of assaulting two women in 2013. |
At least 80 women had accused him of sexual misconduct stretching back decades, including actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Uma Thurman and Salma Hayek. | At least 80 women had accused him of sexual misconduct stretching back decades, including actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Uma Thurman and Salma Hayek. |
The allegations were at the centre of the #MeToo movement that inspired women to go public with misconduct allegations against powerful men. | The allegations were at the centre of the #MeToo movement that inspired women to go public with misconduct allegations against powerful men. |
The movie executive once enjoyed phenomenal success with Oscar winners such Pulp Fiction, Good Will Hunting, The King's Speech and Shakespeare in Love. | The movie executive once enjoyed phenomenal success with Oscar winners such Pulp Fiction, Good Will Hunting, The King's Speech and Shakespeare in Love. |
What happened in the New York court? | What happened in the New York 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. |
Weinstein - who denied all charges - was convicted of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping Jessica Mann, a former aspiring actress, in 2013. | Weinstein - who denied all charges - 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. | 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. | In the minutes after the verdict, Weinstein showed no emotion as he talked to his lead lawyer Donna Rotunno. |
But the judge ordered him to be sent to jail immediately. He was surrounded by court officers, handcuffed and led from the courtroom. He will be sentenced on 11 March. | But the judge ordered him to be sent to jail immediately. He was surrounded by court officers, handcuffed and led from the courtroom. He will be sentenced on 11 March. |
Weinstein turned up before the verdict wearing a navy blue suit and leaning on a walking frame. | Weinstein turned up before the verdict wearing a navy blue suit and leaning on a walking frame. |
What were the allegations? | 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 a New York City hotel room 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 a New York City hotel room 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 the mid-1990s. | Another one of Weinstein's accusers, Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra, told jurors he raped her in her apartment one night in the mid-1990s. |
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. |
As part of prosecutors' efforts to show a pattern of predatory behaviour, three other women testified they were lured to apparent work meetings with Weinstein, then sexually assaulted. | As part of prosecutors' efforts to show a pattern of predatory behaviour, three other women testified they were lured to apparent work meetings with Weinstein, then sexually assaulted. |
How did the trial play out? | How did the trial play out? |
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 said the accusers had had consensual sex with the movie executive to advance their careers, and the allegations amounted to "regret renamed as rape". | But the defence team said the accusers had had consensual sex with the movie executive to advance their careers, and the allegations amounted to "regret renamed as rape". |
They pointed out that two of the accusers had kept in contact with Weinstein, exchanged flirty emails with him and had sex with him after he had attacked them. | They pointed out that two of the accusers had kept in contact with Weinstein, exchanged flirty emails with him and had sex with him after he had attacked them. |
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 following weeks, dozens more allegations emerged and Weinstein was sacked by the board of his company. | Over the following 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. |
What will happen now? | What will happen now? |
Weinstein still has to face charges in Los Angeles, which were announced on the first day he appeared in court in New York. | Weinstein still has to face charges in Los Angeles, which were announced on the first day he appeared in court in New York. |
The Los Angeles County district attorney's office said the charges relate to the alleged rape of one woman and sexual assault of another over two days in 2013. | The Los Angeles County district attorney's office said the charges relate to the alleged rape of one woman and sexual assault of another over two days in 2013. |
District Attorney Jackie Lacey, when announcing the charges, said other cases were also still under review. | District Attorney Jackie Lacey, when announcing the charges, said other cases were also still under review. |
Further investigations into Weinstein's conduct are still possible, while there are also ongoing civil complaints against him too. | Further investigations into Weinstein's conduct are still possible, while there are also ongoing civil complaints against him too. |
In December 2019, lawyers said they had agreed a tentative deal with some accusers, which would pay out $25m (£19m) to nearly 30 actresses and ex-employees. |