NEW YORK — A Manhattan jury found Harvey Weinstein guilty of one count of sex crimes, while deliberations were marred by discord among jurors. On Wednesday, the jury reported a partial verdict but has yet to ascertain outcomes on other charges against the former Hollywood mogul.
Weinstein, now 73 and once a titan in the film industry, is facing legal proceedings following the overturning of his 2020 conviction by a state appeals court. He stands accused of raping one actress and assaulting two others. Weinstein has maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty and denying any allegations of non-consensual sexual encounters.
The jury convicted Weinstein on a count linked to his alleged assault of Miriam Haley, a former production assistant, in 2006. However, jurors acquitted him of a charge involving Kaja Sokola, who was just 16 years old at the time of her alleged assault in 2002. As of now, the jury has not reached a decision regarding a third charge that alleges he raped Jessica Mann in 2013, with deliberations set to resume Thursday.
Regardless of how the unresolved charges are ultimately determined, Weinstein could face a maximum of 25 years in prison at sentencing. He is already serving a 16-year term related to a separate rape conviction in California.
Over the course of the trial, which began in late April, jurors experienced significant conflict in their discussions. On the fifth day of deliberations, Justice Curtis Farber acknowledged that tempers had flared in the jury room, stating that a juror expressed unwillingness to change his stance, and threatening comments were reportedly made.
Weinstein’s defense attorney, Arthur Aidala, requested a mistrial due to the reported jury turmoil. However, even amidst requests for a cooling-off period, the jury communicated that it had reached a verdict on some charges.
Key arguments presented during the prosecution’s closing statements emphasized how Weinstein allegedly exploited his position to victimize women seeking opportunities in the film industry. Conversely, the defense contended that the accusers were fabricating their stories out of embarrassment or resentment after consensual sexual encounters failed to lead to desired Hollywood success.
The previous 2020 conviction was a pivotal moment for the #MeToo movement, sparking a wave of women to share their experiences with powerful men. That conviction was overturned by the New York Court of Appeals earlier this year, with the court stating that witness testimonies relating to separate but similar allegations were inadmissible.
Despite that overturning, Weinstein remains incarcerated due to his California conviction, which is currently under appeal. Over a hundred women have accused him of varying forms of sexual misconduct throughout his career, adding to a national conversation about abuse dynamics in the entertainment industry.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office, led by Alvin Bragg, presented the case as one of Weinstein’s purportedly long-standing predatory behavior, alleging he lured women under the pretense of advancing their careers only to assault them. Meanwhile, the defense painted a different picture, suggesting these were consensual interactions beneficial to both parties, leading to auditions and opportunities.
Weinstein, who co-founded Miramax and found success with films like “Pulp Fiction,” has endured health setbacks while in custody, including a recent hospitalization for emergency heart surgery.
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