A Manhattan jury found Harvey Weinstein guilty on a sex crimes charge on Wednesday in a retrial. This follows a state appeals court’s overturning of the former movie mogul’s 2020 conviction last year.
Weinstein, once a powerful figure in Hollywood, was accused of raping an aspiring actress and assaulting two other women. The 73-year-old, pleaded not guilty, denying any assaults or non-consensual sex.
The jury found Weinstein guilty on one count related to his alleged assault of Miriam Haley in 2006, a former production assistant. He was found not guilty regarding the alleged assault of Kaja Sokola in 2002, who was then a 16-year-old aspiring actress.
The jury hasn’t reached a verdict on the charge of raping aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013 and will resume deliberations on Thursday.
During closing arguments on June 3, prosecutors argued that Weinstein used his power to trap and abuse women.
The defense claimed the accusers lied due to spite stemming from consensual encounters that did not lead to Hollywood success.
The partial verdict came on the fifth day of deliberations after a retrial that began on April 23. Weinstein, who has experienced health problems, attended the retrial in a wheelchair.
In February 2020, a jury found Weinstein guilty of raping Mann and sexually assaulting Haley. The Sokola allegation was not part of that case.
The initial conviction was a significant moment for the #MeToo movement.
However, the New York Court of Appeals overturned the 2020 conviction in April 2024, citing the trial judge’s error in allowing testimony from women whose accusations weren’t part of the criminal charges.
Despite the overturned conviction, Weinstein remains imprisoned due to a 2022 rape conviction in California, resulting in a 16-year sentence. He is appealing that verdict.
Over 100 women, including prominent actresses, have accused Weinstein of misconduct.
The retrial was prosecuted by the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office, which depicted Weinstein as a serial predator who lured women with promises of career advancement and then assaulted them in private settings.
The defense argued that Weinstein had “mutually beneficial” relationships with his accusers, who received auditions and other opportunities in the entertainment industry.
Weinstein co-founded Miramax, known for films like “Shakespeare in Love” and “Pulp Fiction.” His own film studio filed for bankruptcy in March 2018, shortly after misconduct allegations became public.
Weinstein has experienced multiple health issues at Rikers Island jail and underwent emergency heart surgery in September.
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