Latest news with #CurtisFarber
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Harvey Weinstein's next retrial could happen this fall
Disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein faces sentencing and a possible retrial in his New York City sex crimes case. Manhattan Judge Curtis Farber said that he could sentence Weinstein on 30 September, but only if there's no retrial on a rape charge that the last jury failed to decide. If there is a retrial, the judge wants it to happen this fall. Weinstein, 73, was convicted in June of forcing oral sex on TV and movie production assistant and producer Miriam Haley in 2006. The charge carries a possible sentence of up to 25 years in prison. At the same time, the same jury acquitted him of forcing oral sex on model Kaja Sokola, but couldn't decide a charge that he raped hairstylist and actress Jessica Mann in 2013. Manhattan prosecutors reiterated on Wednesday that they and Mann are ready for another trial on the rape charge. In this case, any conviction is punishable by up to four years in prison. Prosecutors requested a January trial date, but Farber proposed the fall. 'The case needs to be tried this year,' Farber said. Weinstein lawyer Arthur Aidala agreed, urging the judge to set the earliest possible date. If a fall trial happens, it would likely put Weinstein's high-profile #MeToo case back in court as Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is in the final stage of his reelection bid. Bragg, a first-term Democrat who made prosecuting sex crimes cases a priority, has expressed satisfaction with Weinstein's conviction on a criminal sex act charge related to Haley. Bragg has said Mann deserves a verdict on her part of the case. 'This work, first and foremost, is about the survivors, and that's why we're prepared to go forward," Bragg said in June. Weinstein also stands convicted of sex crimes in California. He is appealing that verdict and continued to deny all of the allegations against him.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Prosecutors look to try Harvey Weinstein for third time on sexual assault charge
New York prosecutors are looking to try Harvey Weinstein for a third time on a sexual assault charge on which a jury failed to reach a decision earlier this summer but which had succeeded in 2020 before being vacated by an appeals court. New York judge Curtis Farber said on Wednesday he wants a charge involving actor Jessica Mann as the alleged victim to be tried again before the end of this year, though prosecutors indicated they would not be ready for trial until 2026. The news was first reported by NBC News. Weinstein, 67, faces sentencing next month after being convicted in June of assaulting Miriam Haley in 2006, but that sentencing hearing may only go ahead if there is no retrial on the Mann rape charge. In June, a jury failed to reach a verdict on a charge that Weinstein raped Mann. In 2020, a jury found that Weinstein had raped Mann in 2013, but that verdict, along with the guilty verdict on a charge that he sexually assaulted Haley, were overturned. At the retrial, Weinstein, 73, was found guilty on one count of sexually assaulting Haley. He was cleared of assaulting a third named victim, Kaja Sokola, also in 2006, and Weinstein's lawyers insisted the encounters with all three accusers were 'transactional' and 'consensual'. The jury could not decide on the case involving Mann. A spokesperson for Weinstein said on Wednesday that the bid to retry Weinstein on a single charge of third-degree rape of Mann was likely a bid by prosecutors to force his client into entering a guilty plea. 'At some point this becomes a little too much,' said Juda Engelmayer. 'The prosecution had a hard time making their case last time, and they'll have a hard time the next time around. Harvey is more than ready for his next day in court if it comes.' Weinstein's sentencing in the Haley case is set for 30 September, Judge Farber said, but that will not go ahead until Weinstein is tried again on the charge relating to Mann. Weinstein has consistently denied all of the charges against him. He is currently in custody in New York at Rikers Island jail awaiting a post-conviction hearing scheduled for Friday, at which allegations of juror misconduct may be brought up. Weinstein did not testify at his first two trials in New York, or in a separate trial in Los Angeles on sexual assault charges. That case is under appeal. In 2020, at his original trial, Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison after being found guilty of two sex crimes. The women named have chosen to be publicly identified. He remains imprisoned because he was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape and sentenced to 16 years in prison. Weinstein was acquitted in Los Angeles on charges involving one of the women who testified in the New York case. He denies the allegations against him. Associated Press contributed to this report
CNN
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Harvey Weinstein could be sentenced next month, but only if there's no retrial on an unresolved rape charge
Harvey Weinstein faces sentencing and a possible retrial in his New York City sex crimes case, but when they'll happen – and whether he'll be back in front of another jury – is still up in the air. Manhattan Judge Curtis Farber said Wednesday he could sentence Weinstein on Sept. 30 – but only if there's no retrial on a rape charge that the last jury failed to reach a verdict on. Weinstein, 73, was convicted in June of forcing oral sex on TV and movie production assistant and producer Miriam Haley in 2006. The charge carries a possible sentence of up to 25 years in prison. At the same time, the jury acquitted him of forcing oral sex on another woman, one-time model Kaja Sokola, but couldn't decide a charge that he raped hairstylist and actor Jessica Mann in 2013. Manhattan prosecutors told Farber that they're ready to take Weinstein to trial for a third time on the rape charge, which is punishable by up to four years in prison. That's less time than Weinstein has already served. Mann is on board to testify again, they said. Prosecutors requested a January trial date, citing witness availability and their own caseload. Farber balked at that, saying a January date is too far away and conflicts with another, unrelated trial he's already scheduled. He proposed having the trial in the fall. 'The case needs to be tried this year,' Farber said. Weinstein lawyer Arthur Aidala agreed, telling Farber he'd prefer a trial at 'the earliest the court can accommodate us.' Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg said she would ask Mann and other witnesses about their availability for a trial in the fall. If a fall trial happens, it would likely put Weinstein's high-profile #MeToo case back in court as Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is in the final throes of his reelection bid. Bragg, a first-term Democrat who made prosecuting sex crimes cases a priority, has expressed satisfaction with Weinstein's conviction on a criminal sex act charge in the Haley assault and has been resolute in wanting the Oscar-winning studio boss retried on the Mann rape charge. 'The jury was not able to reach a conclusion as to Ms. Mann, and she deserves that,' Bragg said in June. 'This work, first and foremost, is about the survivors and that's why we're prepared to go forward.' Aidala told reporters outside court that, in his view, it's on prosecutors to resolve the rape charge – either by dropping it and clearing the way for sentencing, or promptly taking it to trial again. Weinstein sat in court in a wheelchair while wearing a blue suit and black-rimmed glasses. The 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Shakespeare in Love' producer is committed to fighting the rape charge at another trial, Aidala said, though the lawyer didn't rule out the possibility of reaching a deal with prosecutors to end the case. For now, the trial date remains unresolved, leaving Weinstein's possible Sept. 30 sentencing in limbo. At Weinstein's first trial in 2020, jurors convicted him of raping Mann and forcing oral sex on production assistant and producer Haley. Then an appeals court overturned those convictions and sent the case back for retrial because of legal issues involving other women's testimony. This spring, a new jury convicted him again of sexually assaulting Haley and acquitted him of doing the same to another woman who wasn't part of the first trial. But amid fractious deliberations, the majority-female jury got stuck on the charge related to Mann. Mann has testified that she also had a consensual, on-and-off relationship with the then-married Weinstein, but that she told him 'I don't want to do this' as he cornered her in the hotel room. She said he persevered with advances and demands until she 'just gave up.' Weinstein already stands convicted of sex crimes in California. He denies all of the allegations against him.
CBC
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Weinstein sentencing could happen next month, but only if there's no retrial on an unresolved rape charge
Social Sharing WARNING: This story contains details about sexual assault and may affect those who have experienced it or know someone affected by it. Harvey Weinstein faces sentencing and a possible retrial in his New York City sex crimes case, but when they'll happen — and whether he'll be back in front of another jury — is still up in the air. Manhattan Judge Curtis Farber said Wednesday he could sentence Weinstein on Sept. 30 — but only if there's no retrial on a rape charge that the last jury failed to reach a verdict on. Weinstein, 73, was convicted in June of forcing oral sex on TV and movie production assistant and producer Miriam Haley in 2006. The charge carries a possible sentence of up to 25 years in prison. At the same time, the jury acquitted him of forcing oral sex on another woman, one-time model Kaja Sokola, but couldn't decide a charge that he raped hairstylist and actor Jessica Mann in 2013. Manhattan prosecutors told Farber that they're ready to take Weinstein to trial for a third time on the rape charge, which is punishable by up to four years in prison. That's less time than Weinstein has already served. Mann is on board to testify again, they said. Prosecutors requested a January trial date, citing witness availability and their own caseload. Farber balked at that, saying a January date is too far away and conflicts with another, unrelated trial he's already scheduled. He proposed having the trial in the fall. "The case needs to be tried this year," Farber said. Weinstein lawyer Arthur Aidala agreed, telling Farber he'd prefer a trial at "the earliest the court can accommodate us." Assistant district attorney Nicole Blumberg said she would ask Mann and other witnesses about their availability for a trial in the fall. If a fall trial happens, it would likely put Weinstein's high-profile #MeToo case back in court as Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is in the final throes of his re-election bid. Bragg, a first-term Democrat who made prosecuting sex crimes cases a priority, has expressed satisfaction with Weinstein's conviction on a criminal sex act charge in the Haley assault and has been resolute in wanting the Oscar-winning studio boss retried on the Mann rape charge. "The jury was not able to reach a conclusion as to Ms. Mann, and she deserves that," Bragg said in June. "This work, first and foremost, is about the survivors and that's why we're prepared to go forward." Aidala told reporters outside court that, in his view, it's on prosecutors to resolve the rape charge — either by dropping it and clearing the way for sentencing, or promptly taking it to trial again. Weinstein sat in court in a wheelchair while wearing a blue suit and black-rimmed glasses. The Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare in Love producer is committed to fighting the rape charge at another trial, Aidala said, though the lawyer didn't rule out the possibility of reaching a deal with prosecutors to end the case. For now, the trial date remains unresolved, leaving Weinstein's possible Sept. 30 sentencing in limbo. Earlier proceedings At Weinstein's first trial in 2020, jurors convicted him of raping Mann and forcing oral sex on production assistant and producer Miriam Haley. Then an appeals court overturned those convictions and sent the case back for retrial because of legal issues involving other women's testimony. This spring, a new jury convicted him again of sexually assaulting Haley and acquitted him of doing the same to another woman who wasn't part of the first trial. But amid fractious deliberations, the majority-female jury got stuck on the charge related to Mann. Mann has testified that she also had a consensual, on-and-off relationship with the then-married Weinstein, but that she told him "I don't want to do this" as he cornered her in the hotel room. She said he persevered with advances and demands until she "just gave up." Weinstein already stands convicted of sex crimes in California. He denies all of the allegations against him.
CNN
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Harvey Weinstein could be sentenced next month, but only if there's no retrial on an unresolved rape charge
Harvey Weinstein faces sentencing and a possible retrial in his New York City sex crimes case, but when they'll happen – and whether he'll be back in front of another jury – is still up in the air. Manhattan Judge Curtis Farber said Wednesday he could sentence Weinstein on Sept. 30 – but only if there's no retrial on a rape charge that the last jury failed to reach a verdict on. Weinstein, 73, was convicted in June of forcing oral sex on TV and movie production assistant and producer Miriam Haley in 2006. The charge carries a possible sentence of up to 25 years in prison. At the same time, the jury acquitted him of forcing oral sex on another woman, one-time model Kaja Sokola, but couldn't decide a charge that he raped hairstylist and actor Jessica Mann in 2013. Manhattan prosecutors told Farber that they're ready to take Weinstein to trial for a third time on the rape charge, which is punishable by up to four years in prison. That's less time than Weinstein has already served. Mann is on board to testify again, they said. Prosecutors requested a January trial date, citing witness availability and their own caseload. Farber balked at that, saying a January date is too far away and conflicts with another, unrelated trial he's already scheduled. He proposed having the trial in the fall. 'The case needs to be tried this year,' Farber said. Weinstein lawyer Arthur Aidala agreed, telling Farber he'd prefer a trial at 'the earliest the court can accommodate us.' Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg said she would ask Mann and other witnesses about their availability for a trial in the fall. If a fall trial happens, it would likely put Weinstein's high-profile #MeToo case back in court as Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is in the final throes of his reelection bid. Bragg, a first-term Democrat who made prosecuting sex crimes cases a priority, has expressed satisfaction with Weinstein's conviction on a criminal sex act charge in the Haley assault and has been resolute in wanting the Oscar-winning studio boss retried on the Mann rape charge. 'The jury was not able to reach a conclusion as to Ms. Mann, and she deserves that,' Bragg said in June. 'This work, first and foremost, is about the survivors and that's why we're prepared to go forward.' Aidala told reporters outside court that, in his view, it's on prosecutors to resolve the rape charge – either by dropping it and clearing the way for sentencing, or promptly taking it to trial again. Weinstein sat in court in a wheelchair while wearing a blue suit and black-rimmed glasses. The 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Shakespeare in Love' producer is committed to fighting the rape charge at another trial, Aidala said, though the lawyer didn't rule out the possibility of reaching a deal with prosecutors to end the case. For now, the trial date remains unresolved, leaving Weinstein's possible Sept. 30 sentencing in limbo. At Weinstein's first trial in 2020, jurors convicted him of raping Mann and forcing oral sex on production assistant and producer Haley. Then an appeals court overturned those convictions and sent the case back for retrial because of legal issues involving other women's testimony. This spring, a new jury convicted him again of sexually assaulting Haley and acquitted him of doing the same to another woman who wasn't part of the first trial. But amid fractious deliberations, the majority-female jury got stuck on the charge related to Mann. Mann has testified that she also had a consensual, on-and-off relationship with the then-married Weinstein, but that she told him 'I don't want to do this' as he cornered her in the hotel room. She said he persevered with advances and demands until she 'just gave up.' Weinstein already stands convicted of sex crimes in California. He denies all of the allegations against him.
