Jury resumes deliberations in Harvey Weinstein sex crimes retrial
The panel, which was handed the case on Thursday morning, has requested to hear a readback of some testimony from two of Weinstein's accusers, as well as to see medical records from one of those women.
The jury of seven women and five men is considering two counts of criminal sex act and one count of rape against the 73-year-old Oscar-winning movie producer, with the criminal sex act charges the higher-degree felonies.
Harvey Weinstein has denied all the charges against him (Jefferson Siegel /The New York Times via AP, Pool/PA)
Weinstein has pleaded not guilty.
Sexual misconduct allegations against Weinstein propelled the #MeToo movement in 2017.
He was eventually convicted of sex crimes in New York and California, but the New York conviction was overturned last year, leading to the retrial before a new jury and a different judge.
Jurors heard more than five weeks of evidence, including lengthy testimony from three accusers.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
24 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Man mistakenly deported to El Salvador brought back to US to face charges
His abrupt release from El Salvador is the latest twist in a saga that sparked a months-long standoff between Trump administration officials and the courts over a deportation that officials initially acknowledged was done in error but then continued to stand behind in apparent defiance of orders by judges to facilitate his return to the US. The development occurred after US officials presented El Salvador President Nayib Bukele with an arrest warrant for federal charges in Tennessee accusing Abrego Garcia of playing a key role in smuggling immigrants into the country for money. He is expected to be prosecuted in the US and, if convicted, will be returned to his home country of El Salvador at the conclusion of the case, officials said. 'This is what American justice looks like,' US attorney general Pam Bondi said in announcing Abrego Garcia's return and the unsealing of a grand jury indictment. Abrego Garcia's lawyers called the case 'baseless'. 'There's no way a jury is going to see the evidence and agree that this sheet metal worker is the leader of an international MS-13 smuggling conspiracy,' lawyer Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg said. Federal magistrate judge Barbara Holmes in Nashville, Tennessee, determined that Abrego Garcia will be held in custody until at least next Friday, when there will be an arraignment and detention hearing. The indictment of Kilmar Abrego Garcia that charges him with transporting people who were in the United States illegally (AP Photo/Jon Elswick) Abrego Garcia appeared in court wearing a short-sleeved, white, buttoned shirt. When asked if he understood the charges, he told the judge through an interpreter: 'Yes. I understand.' Democrats and immigrant rights groups had pressed for Abrego Garcia's release, with several politicians – including senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, where Abrego Garcia had lived for years – even travelling to El Salvador to visit him. A federal judge had ordered him to be returned in April and the US Supreme Court rejected an emergency appeal by directing the government to work to bring him back. But the news that Abrego Garcia, who had an immigration court order preventing his deportation to his native country over fears he would face persecution from local gangs, was being brought back for the purpose of prosecution was greeted with dismay by his lawyers. The case also prompted the resignation of a top supervisor in the US attorney's office in Nashville, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a personnel matter. Ben Schrader, who was chief of the office's criminal division, did not explain the reason for his resignation but posted to social media around the time the indictment was being handed down, saying: 'It has been an incredible privilege to serve as a prosecutor with the Department of Justice, where the only job description I've ever known is to do the right thing, in the right way, for the right reasons.' He declined to comment when reached by The Associated Press on Friday.
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Daughter reveals chilling phone call made hours after mum vanished 15 years ago – as cops find body buried in garden
A body was found and a woman has been charged with murder NEW EVIDENCE? Daughter reveals chilling phone call made hours after mum vanished 15 years ago – as cops find body buried in garden Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MYSTERY phone call could prove vital in cracking the cold case of a mum who vanished 15 years ago, The Sun can reveal. Izabela Helena Zabłocka went missing in August 2010, aged 30, after moving to Derbyshire from Poland the previous year. 9 Missing mum Izabela Zabłocka and her daughter Kasia Credit: Kasia Zabłocka 9 Izabela left Poland in 2009 to work in Derby Credit: PA 9 Police launched a murder investigation and said they found human remains Credit: Splash 9 But an investigation wasn't opened by British cops until last month, thanks to a baffling miscommunication gaffe. Once the probe finally kicked into gear, officers made five arrests before finding remains in a back garden and charging a woman with murder on Friday - all within a matter of a couple of weeks. Anna Podedworna, 39, also faces charges of preventing a lawful burial and perverting the course of justice. Now, Izabela's daughter, Kasia, who was just nine when she vanished, has told The Sun about an odd phone conversation she had in the hours after her mum was first reported missing. Kasia and her grandmother would speak to Izabela every day over the phone after her move to Britain - but when she suddenly stopped, they became frantic with worry. The young girl had been continuously trying to contact her mum when an unknown woman answered and told her she didn't know Izabela and hung up. Kasia told us: "It was a conversation of a few seconds, I was only a child. "The woman, as far as I remember, told me that she doesn't know my mother, doesn't know who Izabela is, and hung up." Soon after that, Kasia recalls, the phone was disconnected. Her family - who don't speak English - relayed all of this to Polish cops at the time but the trail eventually ran cold, without any answers about what had happened. Derbyshire Constabulary say the first they heard of Izabela was last month when Kasia, now 25, after years of appeals for help, got in touch on a whim. Body found in search for missing woman who vanished 15 years ago – as suspect, 39, arrested over 'murder' She was as surprised as anyone that British cops hadn't been involved in the case at all - assuming Polish forces must have been liaising with them all these years. And Izabela's case might not be the only one to slip through the cracks. Speaking to The Sun, former top Scotland Yard cop Peter Bleksley said: 'Given all the circumstances, my question is how many more? How many other cases are like this in the UK?' He said it's so easy for someone to move to the UK and then after months or even years disappear but because they're not part of a stable support network, are never reported to police. He added: 'How many more have entered communities, but are murdered and done away with but no one is going to miss them?' Of course, Izabela's family, particularly daughter Kasia, never did give up looking - but were let down by authorities again and again. Speaking to The Sun after remains were found in the garden of a home in Princes Street - a road where Izabela had lived - last week, Kasia had said: 'I definitely want to know the truth as soon as possible.' Her mum, who had called back home every day prior to vanishing on August 29 2010, had communicated to the family she planned to return home imminently. Have YOU got a story or an amazing picture or video? Email exclusive@ and you could even get PAID It's understood Kasia's grandmother had even sent her daughter money to buy a plane ticket but she never arrived and her phone was suddenly deactivated after the strange call. When they reported her missing to Polish cops, it seems they simply assumed she'd made it back to her homeland. They told Izabela's family they checked hospitals and prisons, and over the years did collect DNA samples, including hair from her wedding veil. However, Kasia said the case was then archived in the mid-2010s, and her loved ones feared they would never learn what happened. Mr Bleksley said: 'In terms of the Polish police, they paid it absolute lip service. Not in a hospital, not in a jail, don't really care.' In contrast, he said the investigation by Derbyshire Constabulary 'moved at break neck speed', which is a credit to those involved. 'From it getting reported, even having heard her name for the first time, it's only days until someone has been arrested, re-arrested, and now in custody,' he continued. 'In stark contrast to the Polish police, Derbyshire have taken it very seriously, they must have made a considerable amount of enquiries to rapidly make arrests and nail the correct address, start excavating and unfortunately find remains.' He said he hoped 'despite the passage of time' the remains 'provide a treasure trove of forensic evidence'. 9 Ex Met detective Peter Bleksley Credit: Peter Bleksley 9 Police and forensics searching a property on Princes Street on June 3 Credit: SWNS 9 Kasia spoke to a mystery woman over the phone the day after her mum vanished Credit: Getty Mr Bleksley went on to say: 'It smacks to me that somebody was desperate to tell the police what they knew, and they had been waiting for that knock on the door all that time.' He said the excavation 'will be absolutely painstaking' because 'any tiny microscopic' piece of forensic evidence 'will be crucial to nailing the case'. 'This is almost like a textbook test of modern forensic science,' he added. Asked if he believes Izabela - if the remains prove to be hers - was killed by someone she knew, Mr Bleksley said: 'That is very difficult to speculate. The fact that arrests were made so swiftly, indicates to me that these were people that were known to each other - that I will say… 'I'm not being intentionally flippant here but they are going to solve this. 'Somebody, I feel, is desperate to tell people what they saw. That's why it's galloped forward so quickly. Someone's almost gone 'oh I thought you'd never come - right okay, this is what I saw, this is who did it.'' Mr Bleksley added: 'As much as we criticise our police, and as much as we at times fall short and fail us all, by and large, when it comes to the big, serious, major investigations, they do very well.' He pointed to examples of Brits who have lost loved ones abroad and they've remained unexplained, including Madeleine McCann. 'We sometimes have a lot to be grateful for when it comes to our police force investigating serious crime,' he said. Mr Bleksley also added that had Madeleine - who vanished while on holiday in Portugal in 2007, aged three - gone missing 'under similar circumstances' in the UK, 'that case would have been solved a very long time ago'. During his career he's worked with police forces across the world, including the US, Belgium, France and the Netherlands, sometimes undercover. He championed British forces, in comparison, for their work ethics and systems of investigation. Asked if whilst working in other countries he recognised blindsides in local cops' working, he said: 'I did, which is why I was called in so often to help foreign law enforcement with their cases.' The existence of the likes of Europol, Interpol and the National Crime Agency designed to help police communicate internationally, it may appear archaic that a case like Izabela's can fall through the cracks. 'They can only be effective if the liaison through different countries is good,' said Mr Bleksley. 'In this case, it was appalling to the extent of being non-existent. 'If the Polish police had done their job properly, this case would've been solved years ago.' Asked if it is likely there will be some kind of watchdog probe into what went wrong in Poland, Mr Bleksley said: 'That I don't know, that would be a matter for the family, I'm sure for any forces in the UK, litigation would be pursued, of course, not to mention the complaints procedure. 'I don't know what the situation is in Poland with regards to that. He added: 'There's plenty more embarrassment for the Polish police force coming down the line if this case runs its course and ends up in a trial.' Asked if there's any chance Derbyshire Police were simply mistaken and, despite their assertions, ignored communications with Poland over the years about the case, Mr Bleksley said it's unlikely. 'Everything gets logged these days. Everything goes into the computer system and lives there forever. 'Derbyshire Police wouldn't have been as bullish as they have been by saying we had no trace of this if actually they didn't have any trace.' 'I did everything to publicise my mum's disappearance' Kasia told The Sun last week, prior to the remains discovery: "When Mum went missing, I was 9 years old, I was a child. "It was only when I became an adult that I took up the search for Mum again. "I did everything to publicise my mother's disappearance; it took me a lot of time, but I hope I will find out the truth." She went on to say: "My family reported the case to the Polish police 15 years ago, but now we are finding out that the British police did not receive the report during those 15 years, and they have only just started an investigation. "The Polish police only checked prisons and hospitals and didn't find anything significant, and after a few years, the disappearance case went to the archive." She continued: "I started looking for her on my own as soon as I became an adult. "I started publicising my mother's disappearance in Poland, in the media and on YouTube. I did everything I could, and Polish charities helped me with this. "I started making posters about my mother's disappearance. I wrote to the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in London, and they wrote back that they would check the prisons in England and Wales, but I did not receive any information on whether this was actually checked." The 25-year-old had hoped her mum had simply decided to start a new life, and she would suddenly appear with a new identity. However, those hopes were quashed when murder arrests were made, with Kasia admitting: "I'm very upset by the news I've received, and I'm so sorry that I received this message and not another one. "I've been looking for her for 15 years, and I hope I finally find out the truth." Izabela's last movements 2009 Izabela moves to the UK from Poland 2010 The factory worker is living in Princes Street, Normanton August 28, 2010 She contacts her family for the last time before she vanishes May 2025 Derbyshire Police launch a fresh appeal for information and launch a murder investigation May 28 Two women, aged 39 and 43, as well as a 41-year-old man, are arrested and released on bail June 2 Human remains are found in a garden of a house on the street where Izabela lived June 3 A 39-year-old woman, who was previously arrested on suspicion of murder, is rearrested June 6 Anna Podedworna, 39, has now been charged with murder, preventing a lawful burial and perverting the course of justice Two other women aged 39 and 43, and two men aged 41 and 48, were arrested on suspicion of murder and all remain on police bail pending further inquiries Detective Inspector Kane Martin, who is leading the investigation, said after the body was found: 'Izabela's family are at the forefront of our minds following this discovery and, whilst formal identification has not yet taken place, it is our belief that these remains do belong to Izabela." Mr Martin went on to say: 'We have spoken with Izabela's family in Poland, and they are aware. Our thoughts are with them at this extremely difficult time. 'Identification of the remains is likely to be a lengthy process, but we will issue updates when we are able. 'I know that reports of these findings will send shockwaves through the local community, and I understand the concern of residents. 'Officers will remain in Princes Street in the coming days, and anyone with concerns is encouraged to speak with them." DI Martin explained that a "dedicated team of detectives" would continue their investigation to "piece together information" about the days leading up to Izabela's death. Izabela worked at the former Cranberry Foods chicken and turkey factory in Scropton, around 10 miles west of Derby. Crimestoppers is offering up to £20,000 for exclusive information relating to the investigation that leads to a conviction, with the reward valid for three months until August 27. Anyone with information can contact the charity via its website, or by calling 0800 555 111. Do you know more? Email 9 Cops began searching Princes Street in Derby after making three arrests Credit: Google
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside Beyonce & Jay Z's relationship rollercoaster – from ‘Becky' cheat rumours to Diddy controversy & THAT lift drama
Controversy surrounded the start of their relationship, with concerns raised about their significant age gap. LOVE ON TOP Inside Beyonce & Jay Z's relationship rollercoaster – from 'Becky' cheat rumours to Diddy controversy & THAT lift drama FROM 'Becky with the good hair' rumours to Diddy controversies, Beyoncé and Jay-Z have faced plenty of challenges throughout their 25-year relationship. Despite the ups and downs, the power couple has appeared to remain strong, focusing on creating a positive impact for their three children – Blue Ivy Carter, 13, and twins Rumi and Sir Carter, seven. 11 Beyonce set her for her Cowboy Carter tour Credit: Rex 11 Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Blue Ivy Carter at the 60th Grammy Awards Credit: Getty Images - Getty 11 Sean "Diddy" Combs and Jay-Z at Diddy's birthday party Credit: Getty This weekend, Beyoncé's highly anticipated Cowboy Carter tour kicks off in London, promising a stunning showcase of western-inspired fashion and an unforgettable rodeo of sights and sounds. The global icon is set to perform a two-hour, 45-minute spectacular in support of her Grammy-winning album, bringing her two daughters along for the journey. Beyoncé's music has always been at the heart of her success. However, her journey hasn't been without its share of public storms. From dodging the Diddy controversy to her sister Solange's infamous elevator incident, and those ever-persistent 'Becky' cheating rumours, their relationship has been anything but smooth sailing. Here, we delve into the drama and resilience that has defined their extraordinary 25 years together. 2000 - 2004: Dating The pair first met in 2000 at the MTV Spring Break Festival in Cancun, Mexico, when Beyoncé was 18 and Jay-Z was 30. Jay-Z later rapped about their meeting and sitting together on a flight back to New York in his 2018 track 713. Beyoncé confirmed this during an interview with Oprah, explaining that they were friends for a year and a half before dating. Jay-Z and Beyonce's $3billion net worth 'could take a big hit' after rape claims, lawyer says She said: "We were on the phone for a year and a half, and that foundation is so important for a relationship. 'Just to have someone who you just like is so important, and someone [who] is honest." Although Beyoncé has clarified she was not underage when they met, rumours about their age gap have persisted. Ignoring the speculation, the couple released Crazy in Love in 2003. While Beyoncé had already featured on Jay-Z's 03 Bonnie & Clyde, it was Crazy in Love that solidified their status as a power duo, even though they still kept their relationship under wraps at the time. It was then in 2004, the couple made their red carpet debut at the VMAs. 2008 - 2012: Marriage & child This was the year Beyoncé and Jay-Z finally tied the knot. At 26 and 38, the couple exchanged vows in an 'intimate' ceremony that remains shrouded in secrecy. 11 Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and Blue Ivy Carter at the Grammy Awards in 2018 Credit: Getty It is believed the wedding took place in a Manhattan penthouse. 'There was no rush - no one expected me to run off and get married,' Beyoncé later shared with Seventeen about her wedding day. 'I really don't believe that you will love the same thing when you're 20 as you do at 30. So that was my rule: Before the age of 25, I would never get married. 'I feel like you have to get to know yourself, know what you want, spend some time by yourself, and be proud of who you are before you can share that with someone else.' The Carters then went on to welcome their first child, Blue Ivy Carter, 7 January 2012. 2014: 'Billion dollars on an elevator' fight At this point, Beyoncé found herself embroiled in one of the most dramatic public controversies of her life. Her sister, Solange Knowles, was caught on video attacking Jay-Z in an elevator at the 2014 Met Gala afterparty. The altercation occurred while Beyoncé was also present in the elevator. Security footage obtained by TMZ showed Solange wildly hitting and kicking Jay-Z before a security guard intervened to restrain her. At one point, Beyoncé was seen standing between the two. The video quickly went viral, sparking widespread speculation. At the end of the day, families have problems, and we're no different. We love each other, and above all, we are family Joint statement Though never confirmed, many believed the fight stemmed from cheating rumours surrounding the couple at the time. On May 15, 2014, the trio issued a joint statement addressing the incident. "As a result of the public release of the elevator security footage from Monday, May 5th, there has been a great deal of speculation about what triggered the unfortunate incident. 'But the most important thing is that our family has worked through it," they said in a statement to the Associated Press. "Jay and Solange each assume their share of responsibility for what has occurred. They both acknowledge their role in this private matter that has played out in the public. 11 Beyonce, Jay-Z and Solange Knowles were seen leaving the Met Gala After Party after elevator incident Credit: Splash 11 Beyonce and Jay Z recreating their elevator incident in an attempt to put a positive spin on it Credit: Splash News 'They both have apologised to each other, and we have moved forward as a united family." The statement continued: "The reports of Solange being intoxicated or displaying erratic behavior throughout that evening are simply false. 'At the end of the day, families have problems, and we're no different. We love each other, and above all, we are family. "We've put this behind us and hope everyone else will do the same." 2016: Beyonce releases Lemonade, confirming a 'Becky' In April 2016, Beyoncé released her groundbreaking album Lemonade, which many fans believe essentially confirms that Jay-Z cheated on her. She opens with the lyric: 'You can taste the dishonesty, it's all over your breath.' At another point, she pointedly asks: 'Are you cheating on me?' The album appeared to finally settle the speculation surrounding the infamous Met Gala elevator incident. I think that everybody at one time or another has been betrayed and lied to Tina Knowles Fans were further intrigued when Beyoncé mentioned 'Becky with the good hair,' a phrase that quickly became a cultural talking point. Speaking about the album, Beyoncé's mother, Tina Knowles Lawson, said: 'It could be about anyone's marriage. 'I think that everybody at one time or another has been betrayed and lied to and it's about the pain and it's about the healing process and it's about, 'How do you get past that and move on.'' 2017: The twins are born & Jay Z talks marriage On February 1, 2017, Beyoncé and Jay-Z announced they were expecting twins with a heartfelt post alongside Beyoncé's iconic pregnancy reveal, and they were later born in mid-June that same year. 11 Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and their children reading books Credit: BackGrid 11 Beyoncé holding her twins But it was later that year that got people talking as Jay-Z openly admitted to his infidelity during an interview with The New York Times' T Magazine. Reflecting on the challenges they faced, he said: 'You know, most people walk away, and like divorce rate is like 50 percent or something 'cause most people can't see themselves. "The hardest thing is seeing pain on someone's face that you caused, and then have to deal with yourself. "So, you know, most people don't want to do that. You don't want to look inside yourself." 2024-2025: Embroiled in Sean 'Diddy' Combs drama In Decemeber 2024 Jay Z and Sean 'Diddy' Combs were accused of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000 at the VMAs afterparty, to which the rapper denied all allegations. The unnamed woman, claimed that she had been handed a glass of something that made her feel 'woozy' and recall lying down in a bedroom, in which she got raped. However, in February this year, the case was dismissed, according to a legal filing submitted in New York. At the time Jay Z denied the accusations via a post on social media, in which he wrote: 'My lawyer received a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter, from a 'lawyer' named Tony Buzbee. My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims Jay Z statement What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle. 'No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion. So no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY!!' He continued: 'My only heartbreak is for my family. 11 Beyoncé, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, and Jay-Z at an event Credit: Getty 11 Jay-Z and Sean "P. Diddy" Combs at a CD release party Credit: Getty "My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people.' A man accused Sean 'Diddy' Combs of sexual assault and humiliated him at a 2015 party while Beyonce and Jay Z were present. However, in April 2025 the accuser, Joseph Manzaro, filed an amendment to his lawsuit in Florida and removed the couple's name from his lawsuit.
