Prosecutors in Los Angeles rested their case Thursday within the trial of Harvey Weinstein, who they allege raped two girls and sexually assaulted two others.
The transfer from Deputy District Legal professional Paul Thompson got here after almost 4 weeks of testimony from 44 witnesses.
Weinstein is charged with crimes towards 4 of them: one a mannequin, one other a mannequin and actor, a 3rd a therapeutic massage therapist.
The fourth, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a documentary filmmaker who was an actor on the time of her alleged rape and is now married to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, supplied probably the most dramatic moments on the trial to date together with her emotional testimony.
4 different girls who will not be concerned with the costs testified that Weinstein sexually assaulted them, as prosecutors sought to point out he had a propensity for such acts.
Superior Court docket Choose Lisa Lench denied a movement from Weinstein’s legal professionals to dismiss all the counts towards Weinstein, which they stated prosecutors didn’t show.
“We’re nearing the top of this case in the event you haven’t already picked up on that reality,” Lench advised the jurors, who will get Thanksgiving week off and return for testimony by defence witnesses on Nov. 28.
She warned them to not devour any trial-related media singling out “any film trailers which may be associated to this case or films which may be associated to this case – nicely, not associated to this case, however associated to this difficulty.”
With out saying the identify of the film, she was clearly referring to the Friday launch of She Stated, a movie concerning the New York Occasions reporting of the 2017 tales that put Weinstein on the centre of the #MeToo motion.
As soon as the jury was excused, Weinstein’s lawyer entered a brand new not responsible plea for him to an amended indictment that drops 4 of the 11 earlier counts towards him. The transfer turned needed when prosecutors stated earlier this week that the accuser recognized in court docket as Jane Doe #5 wouldn’t be showing to testify and that the counts would now not be pursued. They might not give a purpose when requested.
Weinstein spokesman Juda Engelmayer stated in response to the dropped prices that “this witness might have felt uneasy about being scrutinized understanding the reality of the matter.”
Nor did prosecutors clarify why Mel Gibson was lacking. They by no means known as the actor, director and one of many trial’s most anticipated witnesses to the stand. The choose had dominated at first of trial that Gibson might testify a couple of dialog he had with the therapeutic massage therapist Weinstein is charged with sexually assaulting.
In transferring to have them dismissed, Weinstein legal professional Alan Jackson went by means of the seven remaining counts towards his consumer, and supplied a possible preview of the protection’s closing arguments.
Jackson stated the allegations that in 2013 Weinstein raped and sexually assaulted an Italian mannequin recognized on the trial as Jane Doe 1 had been particularly unfounded, arguing that there isn’t any convincing proof that “the interlude occurred in any respect.”
Jackson stated there was no proof that there was “any restraint in any way,” as required for a depend of sexual battery, within the a part of the case involving mannequin Lauren Younger.
Younger, the one Weinstein accuser to testify at his trials in each New York and Los Angeles, stated she was paralyzed by worry when Weinstein blocked her from leaving the toilet, masturbated in entrance of her and groped her breasts in a lodge in 2013.
Jackson stated there was ample proof, together with emails the 2 exchanged within the ensuing years, that Siebel Newsom and Weinstein had a consensual sexual encounter that she later reframed as rape.
“The defendant’s movement is denied,” Lench responded. “I believe there may be sufficient proof to ship all these counts to the jury, and I’ll accomplish that.”
Weinstein is 2 years right into a 23-year sentence for his conviction in New York, and has been held in a Los Angeles jail all through the trial.
The Related Press sometimes doesn’t publish the names of individuals alleging sexual assault except they arrive ahead publicly, as Younger and Siebel Newsom have performed by means of their legal professionals.
