Harvey Weinstein hit with new sex crimes charges in LA
LOS ANGELES: Harvey Weinstein was hit with new sexual practice crimes charges in Los Angeles on Monday (January 6) merely every bit his high-profile trial in a divide case opened in New York, kick off proceedings fundamental to the #MeToo motility.
The example in California stems from a ii-yr investigation into allegations from several women that the disgraced movie mogul assaulted them in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills.
Weinstein has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and his chaser could not immediately be reached for comment.
According to the charge canvas, Weinstein allegedly went to a Los Angeles expanse hotel on Feb xviii, 2022 and raped a adult female after pushing his mode into her room. The woman alleges she did non immediately disclose the assault as Weinstein threatened her life if she did and so.
The side by side solar day, he allegedly assaulted a woman at a hotel suite in Beverly Hills later on she unwittingly followed him into the bathroom.
Neither woman has been identified.
"We believe the show volition prove that the defendant used his power and influence to gain access to his victims and so commit violent crimes against them," Los Angeles Commune Attorney Jackie Lacey said in a statement.
"I desire to commend the victims who have come up forward and bravely recounted what happened to them," she added. "It is my hope that all victims of sexual violence notice strength and healing as they move forward."
'Time'S UP'
Earlier on Monday, Weinstein entered the New York country courthouse looking delicate in a dark accommodate and using a walker, more than two years after a slew of allegations against him triggered waves of outrage over pervasive sexual assault in the workplace, leading to the downfall of dozens of powerful men.
Demonstrators anchored past actresses Rose McGowan and Rosanna Arquette, ii of Weinstein'due south nigh prominent accusers, gathered exterior the Manhattan court wielding signs with slogans similar "Justice for survivors."
"Time's up on sexual harassment in all work places," Arquette said. "Time's up on empty apologies without consequences. And time'due south up on the pervasive culture of silence that has enabled abusers similar Weinstein."
The first twenty-four hour period in court was largely technical and lasted just over an hour, with the judge rejecting a defense request that the jury be sequestered.
Burke said pre-screening would begin Tuesday and proper jury option could be delayed until Jan 14 with proceedings expected to concluding vi to eight weeks.
Weinstein did not speak during the hearing or to reporters outside and is unlikely to testify.
WATERSHED MOMENT?
The co-founder of Miramax Films faces life in prison if bedevilled of his crimes in New York and 28 years if convicted in Los Angeles.
He is also the subject of criminal investigations in several other countries, including United kingdom, French republic and Italy.
Almost 90 women, including Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow, have accused the 67-twelvemonth-old of sexual misconduct since The New York Times detailed claims confronting him in Oct 2017.
Simply Weinstein is existence tried in New York on charges related to just two women, highlighting the difficulty of building cases around years-old incidents.
Old product assistant Mimi Haleyi alleges that the "Pulp Fiction" producer forcibly performed oral sex on her in his New York apartment in July 2006.
The second alleged victim is bearding. She says Weinstein raped her in a New York hotel room in March 2013.
"The Sopranos" actress Annabella Sciorra will as well give evidence as the prosecution seeks to convince the jury that Weinstein engaged in a blueprint of predatory sexual behaviour.
A Weinstein conviction would bespeak a watershed moment.
Almost all men felled in the deluge of allegations unleashed by the #MeToo movement, be it in the world of amusement or concern, accept escaped prosecution.
The only other trial on the horizon is that of R&B vocalizer R. Kelly, who was charged final year with several assaults on young women, but allegations of sexual impropriety have dogged him for years.
American comedian Neb Cosby was sentenced to at to the lowest degree iii years in prison in September 2018, although proceedings had started in late 2015, two years before the post-Weinstein surge of allegations.
'STRENGTH AND Backbone'
On Monday, Sarah Ann Masse, an actress who says Weinstein sexually assaulted her when she interviewed for a chore as a nanny in 2008, voiced support for those testifying, sending them "and then much strength and backbone."
"The man has spent thirty-plus years assaulting over 100 women - it'south incredibly clear what happened," she told AFP.
Weinstein has always maintained his sexual relationships were consensual and his defense force team has sought to undermine the allegations of the two New York accusers.
They take produced emails and text messages which they say show that both remained in friendly contact with the defendant for several months subsequently the declared events.
In an email interview with CNN, published on Saturday, Weinstein suggested he may exist able to rebuild his career in the motion picture business concern if acquitted.
"If I tin can get back to doing something good and building places that assistance heal and condolement others, I intend to do so," he wrote.
Masse voiced hope for a far different issue: "I am hoping he goes to jail for the residuum of his life."
Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/world/weinstein-hit-with-new-sex-crimes-charges-in-la-197006
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