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Miriam Haley: Weinstein rape accuser breaks down under questioning in retrial | Miriam Haley: Weinstein rape accuser breaks down under questioning in retrial |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Miriam Haley is one of the alleged victims of disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein | Miriam Haley is one of the alleged victims of disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein |
One of Harvey Weinstein's accusers has broken down in tears and left the courtroom as she testified in the former Hollywood mogul's sex crimes retrial. | One of Harvey Weinstein's accusers has broken down in tears and left the courtroom as she testified in the former Hollywood mogul's sex crimes retrial. |
Production assistant Miriam Haley was being cross-examined by Weinstein's lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, about her allegation that the disgraced producer sexually assaulted her in 2006. | |
In his third trial in five years, Mr Weinstein is accused of sexually abusing Ms Haley and two other women. | |
The 73-year-old has pleaded not guilty, and in court his lawyer has sought to cast doubt on his accusers' claims and credibility. | |
Ms Haley, 48, alleges that Mr Weinstein sexually assaulted her in July 2006 after inviting her to his apartment to "just stop by and say hi". | |
She alleges he backed her into a bedroom and held her down on the bed as she pleaded "no, no - it's not going to happen". | |
During Friday's exchange, Mr Weinstein's lawyer Ms Bonjean questioned what Ms Haley was wearing during the incident, and whether she took her own clothes off or whether Weinstein removed them. | |
"He took my clothes off…I didn't take my clothes off," Ms Haley testified. "He was the one who raped me, not the other way around." | "He took my clothes off…I didn't take my clothes off," Ms Haley testified. "He was the one who raped me, not the other way around." |
"That is for the jury to decide," Mr Weinstein's lawyer replied. | |
"No, it's not for the jury to decide. It's my experience. And he did that to me," Ms Haley argued, using expletives as tears streamed down her face. | "No, it's not for the jury to decide. It's my experience. And he did that to me," Ms Haley argued, using expletives as tears streamed down her face. |
Judge Curtis Farber then paused proceedings to give Ms Haley a chance to compose herself. | Judge Curtis Farber then paused proceedings to give Ms Haley a chance to compose herself. |
Cross-examination continued after the break. | |
Ms Haley, who worked as a production assistant on the Weinstein-produced television show Project Runway, is the first accuser to testify at his retrial. | |
Mr Weinstein is charged with sexually assaulting Ms Haley and Kaja Sokola and raping a third woman, Jessica Mann. | |
He denies the allegations and his lawyers argue that his accusers had consensual encounters with a then-powerful movie producer who could advance their careers. | He denies the allegations and his lawyers argue that his accusers had consensual encounters with a then-powerful movie producer who could advance their careers. |
An appeals court overturned Mr Weinstein's conviction in 2020 after finding he did not get a fair trial. |