After nearly 4 weeks of proof from 44 witnesses, prosecutors in Los Angeles have rested their case within the trial towards Harvey Weinstein – who’s accused of raping two girls and sexually assaulting two others.
Presently two years right into a 23-year sentence for earlier convictions on rape and sexual assault expenses in New York, Weinstein has been held in jail all through the newest trial.
The LA trial was extensively seen as symbolic – however it has assumed higher significance in gentle of the producer being granted permission to appeal against his New York convictions.
The 70-year-old is charged with crimes towards 4 of the witnesses who’ve testified. Three of the ladies – a mannequin, a mannequin/actress, and a therapeutic massage therapist – have given proof anonymously. Filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the spouse of California governor Gavin Newsom, has waived her proper to anonymity.
4 different girls who will not be concerned with the fees have additionally advised the court docket that Weinstein sexually assaulted them.
Initially dealing with 11 expenses, Weinstein is now dealing with seven – and has pleaded not responsible to all, along with his solicitors saying most of the encounters have been consensual – after 4 have been dropped when it emerged that an accuser generally known as Jane Doe #5 wouldn’t be showing to testify.
The trial is breaking for simply over per week round America’s Thanksgiving vacation earlier than returning to listen to from defence witnesses on the finish of November. Listed here are the principle allegations heard in the course of the prosecution.
‘I used to be sort of hysterical by tears’
Pic: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
The primary of Weinstein’s accusers, a mannequin and actress who was in LA for a movie competition on the time she was allegedly raped by the producer in 2013, advised the court docket he knocked on her resort room door and he or she let him in.
She mentioned Weinstein compelled her to carry out oral intercourse on her resort mattress. “I used to be sort of hysterical by tears,” she mentioned. “I saved saying ‘no, no, no’.”
She mentioned she bodily feared Weinstein, who outweighed her by 100 kilos or extra, and regarded operating or hitting or biting him.
She mentioned by the point Weinstein took her into the toilet to allegedly rape her, she had stopped bodily resisting, although nonetheless objected verbally. “I might simply freeze, like my physique would not pay attention.”
Girl testifies for second time
Only one girl who gave proof in the course of the New York trial has testified in LA. The mannequin, who was aspiring to be a screenwriter, had arrange a gathering with Weinstein a few script she was engaged on in 2013, the court docket heard.
She described Weinstein as a “monster”, saying he led her into a rest room, shortly took off his swimsuit and bought briefly within the bathe, then stepped out and blocked her from leaving.
“I used to be disgusted,” she mentioned. “I had by no means seen an enormous man like that bare.”
She mentioned she backed up towards a sink and turned away from him. He then unzipped her gown and groped her with one hand as he masturbated with the opposite, the court docket heard.
Masseuse tells court docket she was ‘terrified’ throughout resort room incident
The therapeutic massage therapist accusing Weinstein alleges he sexually assaulted her in 2010, when she was 28, after he employed her to go to his resort room for a therapy.
When she was within the rest room washing her palms following the therapeutic massage, Weinstein entered, blocked the door, and started masturbating in entrance of her, she advised the court docket.
She started to cry as she mentioned: “I used to be terrified.” Weinstein blocked the door and pushed her towards a wall and groped her breasts earlier than ending, the court docket heard.
“I used to be in shock. I felt frozen, I felt paralysed,” she mentioned.
Filmmaker cries as she tells of alleged rape
Jennifer Siebel Newsom. Pic: AP
In an emotional testimony, Ms Siebel Newsom, 48, advised the court docket she was 31 when she was allegedly attacked by Weinstein throughout what she thought was a enterprise assembly to attempt to construct her profession in 2005.
Spending two-and-a-half hours on the witness stand, she was in tears as she advised the court docket she discovered herself unexpectedly alone with the Hollywood mogul in a resort suite.
Requested to explain her emotions after Weinstein allegedly emerged from the toilet in a gown and started groping her whereas he masturbated, she mentioned: “Horror! Horror! I am trembling. I am like a rock, I am frigid. That is my worst nightmare.”
Learn extra: Harvey Weinstein back in court – everything you need to know
Ms Sibel Newsom mentioned she advised Weinstein that “this was not why I got here right here” as she bodily tried to again away.
The trial resumes with the defence on 28 November.
