Latest news with #NicoleBlumberg
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Jury begins to consider Harvey Weinstein verdict in rape and sexual assault retrial
NEW YORK, June 6 — Jurors began deliberating their verdict in Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein's rape and sexual assault retrial yesterday after hearing from three women who allege the cinema power broker preyed on them. A New York state appeals court had thrown out Weinstein's 2020 convictions, citing irregularities in the presentation of witnesses at his original trial, which resulted in two victims of his alleged abuse testifying for a second time. Judge Curtis Farber issued instructions yesterday to jurors, one of whom had to be swapped out for an alternate after falling ill, before they retired to consider their verdict. He called on the panel to use their 'common sense' for this 'very important decision' and reminded them that Weinstein was 'presumed innocent.' After six weeks of deliberations, the jury must decide whether Weinstein, accused by dozens of women of being a sexual predator, is guilty of sexual assaults in 2006 on former production assistant Miriam Haley and former model Kaja Sokola, and of rape in 2013 of aspiring actress Jessica Mann. 'He raped three women, they all said no,' prosecutor Nicole Blumberg said Wednesday as she recounted the evidence of the three alleged victims of Weinstein who testified at the trial. 'All the power' The Hollywood figure had 'all the power' and 'all the control' over the alleged victims, which is why jurors should find him guilty, she said. 'The defendant thought the rules did not apply to him, now it is the time to let him know that the rules apply to him. 'There is no reasonable doubt; tell the defendant what he already knows — that he is guilty of the three crimes.' Weinstein's defence attorney insisted the sexual encounters were consensual, pointing to a 'casting couch' dynamic between the movie mogul and the women. 'We don't want to police the bedroom' except in cases of rape, Blumberg fired back. Weinstein, the producer of box office hits Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare in Love, has never acknowledged wrongdoing. The cinema magnate, whose downfall in 2017 sparked the global #MeToo movement, has been on trial again since April 15 in a scruffy Manhattan courtroom. He is serving a 16-year prison sentence after being convicted in California of raping and assaulting a European actress more than a decade ago. Two of the accusers in this case — Haley and Mann — testified at Weinstein's original trial. Their accounts helped galvanize the #MeToo movement nearly a decade ago, but the case is being re-prosecuted at a new trial in New York. His 2020 convictions on charges relating to Haley and Mann, and his 23-year prison term, were overturned last year by the New York Court of Appeals. The tribunal ruled that the way witnesses were handled in the original trial was improper. — AFP
Japan Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
'No means no,' prosecutor tells jurors as Harvey Weinstein trial wraps
A prosecutor told jurors at Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein's rape and sexual assault trial Wednesday that "no means no" as they prepared to consider his fate. A New York state appeals court had thrown out Weinstein's 2020 convictions after irregularities in the presentation of witnesses at his original trial, forcing two victims of his alleged abuse to testify a second time. "He raped three women, they all said no," said prosecutor Nicole Blumberg as she recounted the evidence of the three alleged victims of Weinstein who testified at this trial. The Hollywood power broker had "all the power" and "all the control" over the alleged victims, which is why jurors should find him guilty, she said. "The defendant thought the rules did not apply to him, now it is the time to let him know that the rules apply to him. "There is no reasonable doubt, tell the defendant what he already knows — that he is guilty of the three crimes." Weinstein's defense attorney insisted the sexual encounters were consensual, pointing to a "casting couch" dynamic between the movie mogul and the women. "We don't want to police the bedroom" — except in cases of rape, Blumberg fired back. Judge Curtis Farber indicated that he would give his instructions to the jurors Thursday morning, the final step before they withdraw behind closed doors to deliberate. 'MeToo' movement Weinstein, the producer of box-office hits "Pulp Fiction" and "Shakespeare in Love," has never acknowledged wrongdoing. The cinema magnate, whose downfall in 2017 sparked the global #MeToo movement, has been on trial again since April 15 in a scruffy Manhattan courtroom. He is serving a 16-year prison sentence after being convicted in California of raping and assaulting a European actress more than a decade ago. Two of the accusers in this case — onetime production assistant Miriam Haley and then-aspiring actress Jessica Mann — testified at Weinstein's original trial. Their accounts helped galvanize the #MeToo movement nearly a decade ago, but the case is being re-prosecuted at a new trial in New York. His 2020 convictions on charges relating to Haley and Mann, and his 23-year prison term, were overturned last year by the New York Court of Appeals. The tribunal ruled that the way witnesses were handled in the original trial was unlawful. Some 20 years after the earliest incidents were alleged to have taken place, Weinstein's defense team have sought to cast doubt on the credibility of the accusers. Weinstein has appeared daily in a wheelchair, physically subdued, but laughing and joking with his legal team. He did not speak at his trial, which also featured a new charge of sexual assault committed against former Polish model Kaja Sokola.
France 24
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- France 24
'No means no' prosecutor tells jurors as Harvey Weinstein trial wraps
A New York state appeals court had thrown out Weinstein's 2020 convictions after irregularities in the presentation of witnesses at his original trial, forcing two victims of his alleged abuse to testify a second time. "He raped three women, they all said no," said prosecutor Nicole Blumberg as she recounted the evidence of the three alleged victims of Weinstein who testified at this trial. The Hollywood powerbroker had "all the power" and "all the control" over the alleged victims which is why jurors should find him guilty, she said. "The defendant thought the rules did not apply to him, now it is the time to let him know that the rules apply to him. "There is no reasonable doubt, tell the defendant what he already knows -- that he is guilty of the three crimes." Weinstein's defense attorney insisted the sexual encounters were consensual, pointing to a "casting couch" dynamic between the movie mogul and the women. "We don't want to police the bedroom" -- except in cases of rape, Blumberg fired back. Judge Curtis Farber indicated that he would give his instructions to the jurors Thursday morning, the final step before they withdraw behind closed doors to deliberate. 'MeToo' movement Weinstein, the producer of box-office hits "Pulp Fiction" and "Shakespeare in Love," has never acknowledged wrongdoing. The cinema magnate, whose downfall in 2017 sparked the global #MeToo movement, has been on trial again since April 15 in a scruffy Manhattan courtroom. He is serving a 16-year prison sentence after being convicted in California of raping and assaulting a European actress more than a decade ago. Two of the accusers in this case -- onetime production assistant Miriam Haley and then-aspiring actress Jessica Mann -- testified at Weinstein's original trial. Their accounts helped galvanize the #MeToo movement nearly a decade ago, but the case is being re-prosecuted at a new trial in New York. His 2020 convictions on charges relating to Haley and Mann, and his 23-year prison term, were overturned last year by the New York Court of Appeals. The tribunal ruled that the way witnesses were handled in the original trial was unlawful. Some 20 years after the earliest incidents were alleged to have taken place, Weinstein's defense team have sought to cast doubt on the credibility of the accusers. Weinstein has appeared daily in a wheelchair, physically subdued, but laughing and joking with his legal team. He did not speak at his trial, which also featured a new charge of sexual assault committed against former Polish model Kaja Sokola.
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Associated Press
Jury deliberations near in Weinstein sex crimes retrial
NEW YORK (AP) — Jurors in Harvey Weinstein 's sex crimes retrial are due to start deliberating Thursday, with dozens of witnesses, scores of documents and two days of closing arguments to sift through. The seven-woman, five-man jury will start its private discussions after getting legal instructions from the judge Thursday morning. Closing arguments concluded Wednesday, with prosecutor Nicole Blumberg saying the former movie studio boss 'held the golden ticket' to show-business success and used it to sexually assault women who were afraid to cross him. Weinstein, 73, has pleaded not guilty to raping a woman in 2013 and forcing oral sex on two others in 2006. Defense lawyer Arthur Aidala told jurors Tuesday that Weinstein had entirely consensual encounters with the women, arguing that they were 'using him' to advance their fledgling careers in entertainment. Over the last seven years, the case has been seen as something of a crucible for the #MeToo movement. The anti-sexual-misconduct outcry took flight after allegations against Weinstein became public in 2017. He was later convicted of sex crimes in New York and California. The New York conviction was overturned last year, and the case was sent back for retrial. The new trial was expanded to include an accuser who wasn't part of the first trial. One of the criminal sex act charges is based on her allegations. Weinstein chose not to testify.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Jury deliberations near in Weinstein sex crimes retrial
Jurors in Harvey Weinstein 's sex crimes retrial are due to start deliberating Thursday, with dozens of witnesses, scores of documents and two days of closing arguments to sift through. The seven-woman, five-man jury will start its private discussions after getting legal instructions from the judge Thursday morning. Closing arguments concluded Wednesday, with prosecutor Nicole Blumberg saying the former movie studio boss 'held the golden ticket' to show-business success and used it to sexually assault women who were afraid to cross him. Weinstein, 73, has pleaded not guilty to raping a woman in 2013 and forcing oral sex on two others in 2006. Defense lawyer Arthur Aidala told jurors Tuesday that Weinstein had entirely consensual encounters with the women, arguing that they were 'using him' to advance their fledgling careers in entertainment. Over the last seven years, the case has been seen as something of a crucible for the #MeToo movement. The anti-sexual-misconduct outcry took flight after allegations against Weinstein became public in 2017. He was later convicted of sex crimes in New York and California. The New York conviction was overturned last year, and the case was sent back for retrial. The new trial was expanded to include an accuser who wasn't part of the first trial. One of the criminal sex act charges is based on her allegations. Weinstein chose not to testify.
