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Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 23 years in prison on rape conviction | |
(32 minutes later) | |
New York judge imposed 20 years for a first-degree criminal sex act and three years for third-degree rape, to run consecutively | |
Harvey Weinstein, the titan of Hollywood turned convicted rapist, has been sentenced to 23 years in prison today in New York. | |
The fallen mogul was handed down his punishment by Judge James Burke at the New York supreme court having been convicted of two counts of sexual assault. The judge imposed 20 years for a first-degree criminal sex act for forcing oral sex on a production assistant, Miriam Haley, in 2006. | |
He also imposed a three-year sentence for third-degree rape of a woman whom the Guardian is not naming because her wishes over identification are not clear. | |
The two sentences will run consecutively, meaning that Weinstein, 67, will have to complete the terms of the criminal sex act before serving the rape sentence. | |
Both the main accusers, as well as the four other witnesses from trial – the Sopranos actor Annabella Sciorra, Dawn Dunning, Tarale Wulff and Lauren Young – came into court as a united group, sitting at the front row alongside Cyrus Vance, the district attorney of New York who led the prosecution. The women were cheered as they walked into court. | Both the main accusers, as well as the four other witnesses from trial – the Sopranos actor Annabella Sciorra, Dawn Dunning, Tarale Wulff and Lauren Young – came into court as a united group, sitting at the front row alongside Cyrus Vance, the district attorney of New York who led the prosecution. The women were cheered as they walked into court. |
Weinstein was rolled into the courtroom in a wheelchair. Moments later, Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, the New York Times reporters who broke the Weinstein story triggering the #MeToo movement, walked in and sat near the front. | Weinstein was rolled into the courtroom in a wheelchair. Moments later, Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, the New York Times reporters who broke the Weinstein story triggering the #MeToo movement, walked in and sat near the front. |
In a victim statement read out in court, Haley said that Weinstein “not only stripped me of my dignity as a human being and as a woman … it diminished my confidence and faith in myself”. She added she felt alone as she was going through the trauma with no idea other women were out there who had similarly suffered abuse. | In a victim statement read out in court, Haley said that Weinstein “not only stripped me of my dignity as a human being and as a woman … it diminished my confidence and faith in myself”. She added she felt alone as she was going through the trauma with no idea other women were out there who had similarly suffered abuse. |
In her statement, the rape victim said she had finally found her voice. “It is time people who rape other people pay with their life and the life they took.” | In her statement, the rape victim said she had finally found her voice. “It is time people who rape other people pay with their life and the life they took.” |
Both main accusers asked Burke to impose the maximum sentence. | Both main accusers asked Burke to impose the maximum sentence. |
Since he was convicted, Weinstein has been moving between a secure wing of Bellevue hospital in Manhattan where he underwent heart surgery in which a stent was fitted and the North Infirmary of Rikers Island. His spokesman, Juda Engelmayer, told Page Six that he was miserable but trying to be optimistic, even though he suffered a fall earlier this week. | Since he was convicted, Weinstein has been moving between a secure wing of Bellevue hospital in Manhattan where he underwent heart surgery in which a stent was fitted and the North Infirmary of Rikers Island. His spokesman, Juda Engelmayer, told Page Six that he was miserable but trying to be optimistic, even though he suffered a fall earlier this week. |
“He has had a lot of time to think about his life and be humbled, but he thinks it’s going to be a long, uphill battle from here.” | “He has had a lot of time to think about his life and be humbled, but he thinks it’s going to be a long, uphill battle from here.” |
In reaching his decision over sentencing at the New York supreme court, Burke will have had to weigh highly contrasting arguments about the nature of the fallen movie mogul’s crimes. His defense lawyers led by Donna Rotunno had argued that Weinstein’s “remarkable accomplishments” should be taken into account as mitigation, and called for the lightest possible sentence of five years imprisonment. | In reaching his decision over sentencing at the New York supreme court, Burke will have had to weigh highly contrasting arguments about the nature of the fallen movie mogul’s crimes. His defense lawyers led by Donna Rotunno had argued that Weinstein’s “remarkable accomplishments” should be taken into account as mitigation, and called for the lightest possible sentence of five years imprisonment. |
The chief prosecutor, Joan Illuzzi-Orbon, on the other hand, called for a sentence that would match his long record of sexual misconduct dating back to the 1970s. She said he “consistently advanced his own sordid desires and fixations over the wellbeing of others”. | The chief prosecutor, Joan Illuzzi-Orbon, on the other hand, called for a sentence that would match his long record of sexual misconduct dating back to the 1970s. She said he “consistently advanced his own sordid desires and fixations over the wellbeing of others”. |
After sentencing, Weinstein will pass into the bowels of the New York state department of corrections. He will be taken to a reception center in Fishkill, New York, for “processing”, and then transported to a prison in upstate New York. | After sentencing, Weinstein will pass into the bowels of the New York state department of corrections. He will be taken to a reception center in Fishkill, New York, for “processing”, and then transported to a prison in upstate New York. |
He is likely to experience a rude awakening as he enters the prison system. As part of his reception procedure, he will be required to have a shower and go through delousing treatment. | He is likely to experience a rude awakening as he enters the prison system. As part of his reception procedure, he will be required to have a shower and go through delousing treatment. |
He will then be made to sit through a suicide prevention video. That part of the proceedings is likely to be closely observed as New York is in a heightened state of tension after the financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein killed himself in a federal jail in Manhattan. | He will then be made to sit through a suicide prevention video. That part of the proceedings is likely to be closely observed as New York is in a heightened state of tension after the financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein killed himself in a federal jail in Manhattan. |
Weinstein had also indicated he had suicidal thoughts in documents released on Tuesday from December 2017. | Weinstein had also indicated he had suicidal thoughts in documents released on Tuesday from December 2017. |
As a way of keeping his spirits up, Weinstein may like to reflect on the fact that once sentencing is behind him he can get busy filing appeals. His lawyers have already indicated they will do so, and much of their strategy during the trial seemed to be designed to plant seeds of possible legal challenges. | As a way of keeping his spirits up, Weinstein may like to reflect on the fact that once sentencing is behind him he can get busy filing appeals. His lawyers have already indicated they will do so, and much of their strategy during the trial seemed to be designed to plant seeds of possible legal challenges. |
Under New York law, Weinstein must file a notice that he intends to appeal with the state appeals court within 30 days, and lodge a full argument for why he is challenging the conviction or sentence, known as an “appeal brief”, within 120 days. | Under New York law, Weinstein must file a notice that he intends to appeal with the state appeals court within 30 days, and lodge a full argument for why he is challenging the conviction or sentence, known as an “appeal brief”, within 120 days. |
Less happily, there remain numerous legal perils ahead. Authorities in Los Angeles are still pursuing an active criminal case against him relating to two incidents of alleged sexual assault in 2013, and several women are continuing to press civil charges against him. | Less happily, there remain numerous legal perils ahead. Authorities in Los Angeles are still pursuing an active criminal case against him relating to two incidents of alleged sexual assault in 2013, and several women are continuing to press civil charges against him. |
In the US, Rainn offers support at 800-656-4673 or by chat at Rainn.org. In the UK, the rape crisis national freephone helpline is at 0808-802-9999. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800-737-7328) or1800respect.org.au. Other international helplines can be found at Ibiblio.org. | In the US, Rainn offers support at 800-656-4673 or by chat at Rainn.org. In the UK, the rape crisis national freephone helpline is at 0808-802-9999. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800-737-7328) or1800respect.org.au. Other international helplines can be found at Ibiblio.org. |