[Reality-TV-Fanatics] Harvey Weinstein convicted of rape, criminal sexual act

 

I cannot believe this verdict 3 Not guilty and the serious charges . I guess be thankful he got charged on 2 . This of course will be appealed and also he has charges in California next up. This sentencing is in March

Harvey Weinstein convicted of rape, criminal sexual act

Taryn Ryder

Yahoo CelebrityFebruary 24, 2020, 11:12 AM CST

Harvey Weinstein has been found guilty on two of five possible counts: criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree. He was found not guilty, though, of the most serious charges, of predatory sexual assault (two counts) and rape in the first degree. The jury

Criminal sexual act in the first degree carries a minimum punishment of five years and a maximum of 25 years in prison, while the third-degree rape charge is punishable by probation up to four years in prison.

The verdict comes after Weinstein's top attorney, Donna Rotunno, implored the jury to "use your New York City common sense" and find him not guilty. During closing arguments, Weinstein's defense team painted the disgraced producer as a victim who was involved in consensual and often transactional relationships with his accusers.

Meanwhile, the prosecution described the Oscar winner as "an abusive rapist" who took advantage of "disposable" women for decades. Weinstein never took the stand.

Weinstein faced five felony charges: two counts of predatory sexual assault, two counts of rape (first-degree and third-degree) and one count of criminal sexual assault in the first degree. However, because it was a mix of either/or charges for the jury to choose from, he could've only been convicted of two at most. The jury indicated last week they were deadlocked on the most serious charges of predatory sexual assault, which carried a maximum sentence of life in prison.

On Friday, jurors sent a note to Judge Burke asking if it would be possible to be hung on two counts of predatory sexual assault while reaching a unanimous verdict on the other three charges. While Weinstein's lawyers said they would accept a partial verdict, prosecutors would not. The judge asked jurors to keep working toward a unanimous verdict on all charges.

Although six women testified they were sexually assaulted by the 67-year-old producer, he only faced charges in connection with the allegations of two — Miriam Haley and Jessica Mann.

Haley, a former production assistant on Project Runway, claimed that Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on her at his apartment in 2006. Mann, a hairdresser and aspiring actress, accused Weinstein of raping her in 2013. Four women — Dawn Dunning, Lauren Young, Tarale Wulff and Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra — were allowed to testify so prosecutors could establish a pattern of behavior. Sciorra's testimony specifically supported the charges of predatory sexual assault. If the jury believed Weinstein committed either or both of the first-degree charges of criminal sexual assault and/or rape, then Sciorra's testimony could escalate the charges to predatory sexual assault.

Judge Burke explained to the jury that Weinstein couldn't be found guilty of both predatory sexual assault and criminal sexual assault in the first degree. If they found him guilty of predatory sexual assault, he explained, they should not consider the criminal sexual assault charge.

"It is fundamental that a jury consider a greater before a lesser," the judge said before the deliberation process began last Tuesday.

The trial is largely seen as a watershed moment for #MeToo, the worldwide movement launched when allegations surrounding Weinstein first emerged in 2017. More than 80 women have come forward accusing the former movie mogul of sexual assault, harassment and/or misconduct. He has denied all allegations of nonconsensual sex.

While his rape trial in New York has come to a close, Weinstein is also accused of sex crimes in Los Angeles. There, he's been charged with raping one woman and sexually assaulting another in separate incidents over a two-day period in 2013. Lauren Young, one of the six women to testify in New York, is one accuser in that case, where Weinstein faces nine charges of rape and sexual misconduct.

Story developing...

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Posted by: SHARON <ceegee2006@yahoo.com>

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