US Justice
Jury retires to deliberate in Weinstein trial
Harvey Weinstein exits a courthouse in New York. photo
© John Minchillo/AP/dpa
Four women accuse the former film mogul of rape and sexual assault, among other things. If Weinstein were convicted, it wouldn’t be the first time.
In the trial of former film producer Harvey Weinstein for sexual assault, the jury retired yesterday to deliberate on the verdict. After a week-long trial with dozens of testimonies, the 12 jurors must decide seven counts, including rape and other sexual assault.
It is about allegations by four women in a period from 2004 to 2013. Most of the attacks are said to have taken place in hotels in Beverly Hills. In the event of a guilty verdict on all counts, the 70-year-old faces decades of imprisonment.
In the closing arguments, the prosecution described Weinstein as a rapist who used his power to prey on women and act like a predator. The defense argued that the sexual acts were consensual or that some of the allegations made were fabricated by the plaintiffs.
With the trial in California, Weinstein was again on trial for sexual assault. A trial in New York ended in 2020 with a guilty verdict and a 23-year prison sentence. His legal team has appealed the verdict.