Harvey Weinstein is not going to testify at his rape trial, which resumed in Los Angeles on Monday because the protection referred to as witnesses in an try and poke holes in earlier testimony by one of many disgraced Hollywood mogul’s accusers.
Weinstein’s protection attorneys started presenting their case on the sex-related prices involving 4 ladies.
The mannequin and actress testified earlier within the trial that she was sexually assaulted by Weinstein at a resort in 2013 following the Los Angeles Italia Movie Competition and compelled to carry out oral intercourse as he had issues sustaining an erection.
Three witnesses have been referred to as to the stand Monday, together with a resort worker who confirmed that the girl stayed on the resort weeks after the alleged assault.
Courtroom resumed on Monday in Los Angeles after a week-long break for Thanksgiving. The prosecution rested simply earlier than the vacation, after almost a month of grueling testimony from witnesses. Weinstein’s protection is anticipated to relaxation its case later this week.
Weinstein’s legal professional Mark Werksman informed the choose that his shopper wouldn’t be taking the stand on the trial. The disgraced Hollywood mogul additionally declined to testify in his New York trial in 2020, so it was anticipated that he wouldn’t testify at this one.
Weinstein, 70, is already serving a 23-year jail sentence for intercourse crimes in New York, and now faces seven extra felony rape and assault counts.
Prosecutors stated that after getting a therapeutic massage from Jane Doe 3 at a California resort in Beverly Hills in Could of 2010, a unadorned Weinstein adopted her into the lavatory and masturbated
Mark Werksman legal professional for Harvey Weinstein leaves the Los Angeles Superior Courthouse on November 28, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.Frederick M. Brown for DailyMail.com
Weinstein is charged with crimes towards 4 ladies: one a mannequin, one other a mannequin and actor, a 3rd a therapeutic massage therapist.
The fourth, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a documentary filmmaker who was an actor on the time of her alleged rape and is now married to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, offered probably the most dramatic moments on the trial to date along with her emotional testimony.
4 different ladies who should not concerned with the costs testified that Weinstein sexually assaulted them, as prosecutors sought to point out he had a propensity for such acts.
Three totally different witnesses have been referred to as to the stand on Monday to testify about allegations from Jane Doe No. 1. The lady testified earlier within the trial that Weinstein raped her and compelled her to carry out oral intercourse in February 2013.
Because the protection laid out his plan for witness testimony this week, Werksman informed the choose that Weinstein wouldn’t be taking the stand.
‘I would like you to grasp that you’ve got an absolute proper to testify,’ Choose Lisa B. Lench informed Weinstein. She additionally informed Weinstein that he has the correct to not testify.
‘Sure,’ Weinstein responded, confirming to the choose that he understands his rights, however that he has determined to not testify.
The protection group went on to name three of their six witnesses.
The primary was previously the overall supervisor of Mr. C Beverly Hills resort, who labored on the resort on the time of the alleged assault of Jane Doe No. 1. He confirmed Monday that she stayed on the similar resort weeks after the alleged assault.
In earlier testimony, Jane Doe No. 1 broke down on the stand as she described the alleged incident that occurred at her resort, Mr. C Beverly Hills, following the Los Angeles Italia Movie Competition, the place she was a VIP visitor.
‘He simply walked in,’ she testified, claiming Weinstein compelled his method into her resort room in the midst of the night time.
‘I did not perceive what was occurring … I keep in mind considering, ‘Did he comply with me?’ I do not know him.’
The lady stated she requested Weinstein to go away, however then she froze as a result of she stated she was scared he was going to kill her.
‘I used to be panicking and began crying … He did not care,’ she stated. ‘I needed to die. It was disgusting. It was humiliating.’
On cross-examination, Weinstein’s legal professional Alan Jackson requested her: ‘You stayed within the very room the place you say you have been attacked and victimized?’ The lady conceded that she had.
The lady first reported the alleged assault in 2017, telling the jury that she solely got here ahead as a result of her daughter, recognized in court docket as “Maria C.,” who was additionally a sufferer of sexual assault, inspired her to take action.
Three totally different witnesses have been referred to as to the stand on Monday by Weinstein’s protection group – together with Werksman – to testify about allegations from Jane Doe No. 1
Jane Doe No. 1 testified earlier within the trial that Weinstein raped her and compelled her to carry out oral intercourse in February 2013 on the Mr. C Lodge Beverly Hills (pictured) The protection group tried to poke holes within the witness’ testimony on Monday
On Monday, Beverly Hills PD Detective Stephanie Frias was referred to as to the stand by the protection group. Frias had interviewed Jane Doe No. 1’s daughter in 2017 when she reported her personal assault that allegedly occurred at her highschool.
The protection requested the detective if Jane Doe No. 1 had stated something about being a sufferer of sexual assault when she went along with her daughter to file the report.
‘Did Jane Doe No. 1 ever let you know or point out to you her personal victimization?’ Jackson requested.
Frias responded, ‘In keeping with my report, no.’
Prosecutor Paul Thompson later requested the detective: ‘Jane Doe No. 1 was centered on the scenario along with her daughter?’
The detective responded: ‘Appropriate.’
A 3rd witness was referred to as to the stand on Monday – a firefighter from the Los Angeles Hearth Division. He confirmed {that a} fireplace alarm went off at Mr. C’s resort and the LAFD was dispatched round 12:45 a.m. on February 18, 2013, which was across the time of the alleged rape of Jane Doe No. 1.
This comes after an earlier cross examination of Jane Doe No. 1 by which Weinstein’s legal professional requested if she recalled listening to a loud fireplace alarm go off within the resort the night time of the alleged rape.
She stated she didn’t recall listening to a hearth alarm that night time and the legal professional had fired again, ‘You do not keep in mind the fireplace alarm since you weren’t in your room, proper?’
The protection will name extra witnesses on Tuesday and Wednesday, which embrace an FBI agent.
One among Weinstein’s accusers, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a documentary filmmaker who was an actor on the time of her alleged rape and is now married to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, offered probably the most dramatic moments on the trial to date along with her emotional testimony
Jennifer Siebel Newsom is pictured along with her husband California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Vice President Kamala Harris in 2021
Earlier than the week-long break, the choose warned jurors to not devour any trial-related media singling out ‘any film trailers that could be associated to this case or motion pictures that could be associated to this case – effectively, not associated to this case, however associated to this subject.’
With out saying the identify of the film, she was clearly referring to the brand new launch of ‘She Stated,’ a movie in regards to the New York Occasions reporting of the 2017 tales that put Weinstein on the heart of the #MeToo motion.
As soon as the jury was excused, Weinstein’s lawyer entered a brand new not responsible plea for him to an amended indictment that drops 4 of the 11 earlier counts towards him.
The transfer grew to become obligatory when prosecutors stated earlier this week that the accuser identified in court docket as Jane Doe #5 wouldn’t be showing to testify and that the counts would not be pursued. They might not give a motive when requested.
Weinstein spokesman Juda Engelmayer stated in response to the dropped prices that ‘this witness might have felt uneasy about being scrutinized understanding the reality of the matter.’
Nor did prosecutors clarify why Mel Gibson was lacking. They by no means referred to as the actor, director and one of many trial’s most anticipated witnesses to the stand.
The choose had dominated at first of a trial that Gibson might testify a few dialog he had with the therapeutic massage therapist Weinstein is charged with sexually assaulting.
Mel Gibson (pictured in April 2022) is not going to testify at Weinstein’s trial, regardless of the choose ruling he might inform the court docket what he realized from one of many disgraced film mogul’s accusers
Jane Doe 3 stated the alleged assault occurred after a therapeutic massage session on the Montage Lodge in Beverly Hills in 2010 when a unadorned Weinstein adopted her into the lavatory and masturbated
In shifting to have them dismissed, Weinstein legal professional Alan Jackson went via the seven remaining counts towards his shopper and offered a possible preview of the protection’s closing arguments.
Jackson stated the allegations that in 2013 Weinstein raped and sexually assaulted an Italian mannequin identified on the trial as Jane Doe 1 have been particularly unfounded, arguing that there is no such thing as a convincing proof that ‘the interlude occurred in any respect.’
Jackson stated there was no proof that there was ‘any restraint by any means,’ as required for a depend of sexual battery, within the a part of the case involving mannequin Lauren Younger.
Younger, the one Weinstein accuser to testify at his trials in each New York and Los Angeles, stated she was paralyzed by concern when Weinstein blocked her from leaving the lavatory, masturbated in entrance of her and groped her breasts in a resort in 2013.
Jackson stated there was ample proof, together with emails the 2 exchanged within the ensuing years, that Siebel Newsom and Weinstein had a consensual sexual encounter that she later reframed as rape.
‘The defendant’s movement is denied,’ Lench responded. ‘I believe there’s sufficient proof to ship all these counts to the jury, and I’ll achieve this.’
Weinstein is 2 years right into a 23-year sentence for his conviction in New York and has been held in a Los Angeles jail all through the trial.