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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jury deliberations begin in Harvey Weinstein's NYC sexual assault retrial
Jurors in Harvey Weinstein's sexual assault retrial in Manhattan finished their first day of deliberations Thursday, as they mull whether the disgraced Hollywood heavyweight leveraged his power to sexually assault three women. Weinstein, 73, is on trial in Manhattan Supreme Court for criminal sex act and rape, after his landmark 2020 #MeToo conviction was overturned last year. Jurors heard the stories of three accusers over the course of the eight-week trial — former TV production assistant Miriam Haley, Polish model and aspiring actress Kaja Sokola, and one-time actress Jessica Mann. Mann and Haley testified at Weinstein's 2020 trial, which ended in a 23-year prison sentence before the state's highest court ruled that Judge James Burke should have never allowed the testimony of three women who accused the movie mogul of sexual assaults that weren't included in the charges against him. Defense lawyer Arthur Aidala and Assistant D.A. Nicole Blumberg gave their closing arguments on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the case officially went to the jury at about 11:30 a.m. Thursday. The jurors ended the day with a trio of notes to the court, requesting to again hear testimony from Sokola and Mann describing their alleged attacks at the TriBeca Grand Hotel and DoubleTree Hotel. They also asked to see Mann's medical records from her hospital and doctor's visits after news accounts came out detailing Weinstein's history as a serial sex harasser in October 2017. Mann testified that she checked herself into an emergency room after having a panic attack and suicidal thoughts after hearing the news. The records also show that she told her doctors Weinstein had raped her. Haley, a former TV producer who met Weinstein in 2004 accused him of pulling out a tampon and forcibly performing oral sex on her in July 2006, and testified about a second, unwanted sexual encounter at the Tribeca Grand Hotel two weeks later. Sokola testified that Weinstein attacked her when she was a 16-year-old model, rubbing her vagina under her pants and underwear in 2002, and in 2006, he forcibly performed oral sex on her at the Tribeca Grand Hotel while her sister waited at a restaurant table downstairs. Mann, also an aspiring actress, alleged Weinstein raped her in Midtown's DoubleTree Hotel in March 2013, but maintained a complicated 'relationship' that included some consensual sexual encounters for years. She also testified about an encounter at the Peninsula Hotel in 2013 where she says Weinstein raped her after she told him she was getting serious with her new actor boyfriend. Jury deliberations resume Friday.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Harvey Weinstein accuser Kaya Sokola tells jurors she was a ‘happy teenager' before meeting gone wrong
Harvey Weinstein accuser Kaja Sokola told jurors Thursday she met with the monstrous movie mogul in 2006 — even though he'd sexually abused her as a teenager years earlier — because she wanted to impress her family, who disapproved of her acting dreams. Weinstein already had attacked Sokola, now 39, when she was a 16-year-old model, rubbing her vagina under her pants and underwear in 2002, and two years later, he grabbed her breast in a limo, she testified at Weinstein's sexual assault retrial in Manhattan Supreme Court. Though she recounted both alleged incidents on the stand Thursday, the charges against Weinstein focus on a May 2006 encounter at the Tribeca Grand Hotel, while her sister waited at a restaurant table downstairs. Still, Sokola stayed in touch with Weinstein because she wanted to go to the famous Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, and she shot a scene in February 2006 in a role as an extra in 'The Nanny Diaries.' And when her older sister, Ewa, visited her in New York for her birthday, Kaja had something to prove, she said. 'My mom was extremely upset that I didn't go to university,' Sokola said. 'She thought I made the dumbest decision with my life. She did not want me to go to acting school.' She went to a lunch meeting with Weinstein at the Tribeca Grand Hotel, and brought her sister along with her. 'I was happy that my sister was there with me,' Sokola recounted. 'I really wanted to have her approval. I really wanted her to have a conversation [about me] with my mom that, 'She's not a joke, she has a chance, someone really believes in her and she's doing the right things right now.'' She added, 'With my sister there I was feeling safe and secure.' About a half hour into the conversation — which included her sister commenting on Weinstein's weight and health, and on how 'great actresses from Europe start to act in American films and they become bad' — Weinstein invited Sokola to a room upstairs to read a movie script, she recalled. But he didn't have a script for her, she said. Instead, he pushed her onto a bed, pinned her with his body, removed her boots, stockings and underwear, and forcibly performed oral sex on her: 'My soul was removed from me,' she said. 'And I kept on saying, 'Please don't. Please stop. Please don't. Please stop. I don't want this,'' she recounted. 'But he didn't listen.' The assault ended after Weinstein pleasured himself, and then told her, 'It wasn't that difficult, was it?' she said. She didn't tell her sister what happened as they left the hotel, and made 'every effort that I could to not make her notice that anything was off.' 'No, after that,' she said, 'I never shared it with anyone. I blamed myself.' Meanwhile, Ewa Sokola testified on Wednesday that she had no inclination her sister had been assaulted, and didn't learn of the allegations until seeing a 2022 Rolling Stone article. Shortly afterward, Weinstein sent Kaja Sokola a birthday card, written to 'someone with a real zest for life,' with a note telling her, 'thought you would like some of these titles' and that they'd make her a movie lover. Sokola also testified about the alleged 2002 assault, which happened when she was just 16 years old. She said she met Weinstein at a nightclub in lower Manhattan during a modeling trip to the New York and got his number to set up a lunch meeting. When Weinstein picked her up in a private car a few days later, they drove past a restaurant and headed for his Soho loft instead, she said. There, he ordered her to take off her top, and he reached into her underwear in the loft's bathroom, while he guided her hand to his penis, she testified After the abuse, she said, she started to scream but he chided her that she 'had to work on my stubbornness,' and pointed out he had made the careers of actresses like Penelope Cruz and Gwyneth Paltrow, she said. Sokola never reported to police what happened, she said: 'I thought it's my fault what happened. … I was a happy teenager before that. And I had boundaries. But this felt like my boundaries were not respected. They were completely crushed, and it happened so rapidly without my permission that I didn't know how to put it together, to understand it,' she said. The retrial, which entered its third week of testimony, marked the first time Sokola aired her allegations in an open court proceeding. Sokola didn't come forward until after October 2017, when several women went public in news reports about Weinstein. She received a $3 million settlement for the alleged 2002 assault from Disney, Miramax and Weinstein's brother and Miramax co-founder Robert. She also got $475,000 from a settlement fund for the alleged 2006 attack. Weinstein was convicted by a Manhattan jury in 2020 of rape for an attack on aspiring actress Jessica Mann at the DoubleTree Hotel in 2013, and criminal sex act for assaulting former TV production assistant Miriam Haley in his SoHo loft in July 2006. Weinstein's retrial covers allegations by Haley and Mann, as well the new allegations by Sokola. Haley took the stand for several days last week. Weinstein's defense team is expected to cross-examine Sokola Friday.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Miriam Haley describes, for a second time, alleged assaults by Harvey Weinstein
Former 'Project Runway' production assistant Miriam Haley was back on the witness stand Wednesday testifying in graphic detail how disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulted her 19 years ago at his Manhattan apartment and, later, for a second time, at a New York City hotel. Sobbing on the stand, Haley told the court that during the first alleged assault in June 2006 she repeatedly told Weinstein 'no' and that she was menstruating, but that did not deter the Hollywood producer who 'just continued pushing, continued insisting, pushed me onto bed holding me down.' 'He put his mouth on my vagina, before and after he pulled out the tampon, he put his mouth on my vagina forcefully,' Haley testified. 'I was mortified, I was embarrassed, in disbelief.' Haley said the next month Weinstein, who had arranged for her to get the TV production assistant job, lured her to his room at the Tribeca Grand Hotel where he immediately 'pulled me towards the bed.' 'I was just like, 'Oh no, no again,' and he basically proceeded to undress me,' she said. 'I felt so stupid. I kind of just went numb and he proceeded to have intercourse with me and I just lay there like a dead fish.' Haley's account was a reprise of the testimony she provided five years earlier at Weinstein's first trial, which resulted in a landmark 2020 conviction that was overturned last year. Then and now, Haley insisted that Weinstein would not take no for an answer and that he violated her in June 2006 in a bedroom with what appeared to be kid's drawings on the walls. 'I could not get off or get away from his grip, and I realized that I'm getting raped,' she told the court. Haley said she wondered whether 'screaming rape, will anyone hear me.' 'My brain was calculating what was the best course of action at that moment,' she said. 'The risk of him turning to violence, and I decided in that moment that the smartest thing to do is just to check out and endure it and leave.' Haley, 48, took the stand for the second time to recount the alleged assaults after the state Court of Appeals in April 2024 overturned Weinstein's conviction after concluding that the judge at his first trial tipped the scales against him by allowing women to testify about allegations that weren't part of the case. Weinstein is charged with one count of engaging in a criminal sex act in connection with Haley's allegations that he forcibly performed oral sex on her in June 2006. He is also charged with one count of third-degree rape for allegedly assaulting actress Jessica Mann in 2013. Mann also testified at Weinstein's first trial and is expected to take the stand again at his retrial. New to the retrial is an additional charge of engaging in a first-degree criminal sexual act for the alleged assault of a Polish former model named Kaja Sokola. Sokola, who was not part of the 2020 trial, claimed in a lawsuit that she was 16 when Weinstein in 2006 performed oral sex on her without her consent at a Manhattan hotel. She, too, is expected to testify at Weinstein's retrial. Weinstein, 73, has denied assaulting the three women. Prosecutors contend Weinstein used his Hollywood clout to prey on young women like Haley who were searching for jobs in the TV and film industry — and to silence them after the alleged assaults. 'He knew how addictive Hollywood dreams were,' Assistant District Attorney Shannon Lucey said during opening arguments. 'He knew how the promises of success worked.' Under questioning by Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg, Haley said she was too embarrassed and afraid of what Weinstein would do to her to go report the alleged assaults to the police. 'I had no idea there were other people in the same situation,' Haley said. 'I thought it was just me.' Weinstein's lead lawyer, Arthur Aidala, then objected and moved for a mistrial saying 'she just told the jury there were others.' Manhattan Judge Curtis Farber denied Aidala's request for a mistrial. Aidala has characterized Weinstein's sexual encounters with the accusers as 'transactional' and 'consensual.' On Tuesday, Haley said she met Weinstein in 2004 at the after-party for the movie premiere of 'The Aviator.' She said she reconnected with Weinstein several years later at the Cannes Film Festival in France. Haley said she was looking for an opportunity as a production assistant in New York and agreed to meet him at his hotel. But when she got there, Haley said Weinstein began pressuring her to give him a massage. Haley said she felt 'humiliated' and rebuffed Weinstein's advances. Haley said Weinstein did arrange for her to work on 'Project Runway,' even though he knew she lacked a U.S. work visa. She was raised in Finland and Sweden. This article was originally published on
NBC News
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Miriam Haley describes, for a second time, alleged assaults by Harvey Weinstein
Former 'Project Runway' production assistant Miriam Haley was back on the witness stand Wednesday testifying in graphic detail how disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulted her 19 years ago at his Manhattan apartment and, later, for a second time, at a New York City hotel. Sobbing on the stand, Haley told the court that during the first alleged assault in June 2006 she repeatedly told Weinstein 'no' and that she was menstruating, but that did not deter the Hollywood producer who 'just continued pushing, continued insisting, pushed me onto bed holding me down.' 'He put his mouth on my vagina, before and after he pulled out the tampon, he put his mouth on my vagina forcefully,' Haley testified. 'I was mortified, I was embarrassed, in disbelief.' Haley said the next month Weinstein, who had arranged for her to get the TV production assistant job, lured her to his room at the Tribeca Grand Hotel where he immediately 'pulled me towards the bed.' 'I was just like, 'Oh no, no again,' and he basically proceeded to undress me,' she said. 'I felt so stupid. I kind of just went numb and he proceeded to have intercourse with me and I just lay there like a dead fish.' Haley's account was a reprise of the testimony she provided five years earlier at Weinstein's first trial, which resulted in a landmark 2020 conviction that was overturned last year. Then and now, Haley insisted that Weinstein would not take no for an answer and that he violated her in June 2006 in a bedroom with what appeared to be kid's drawings on the walls. 'I could not get off or get away from his grip, and I realized that I'm getting raped,' she told the court. Haley said she wondered whether 'screaming rape, will anyone hear me.' 'My brain was calculating what was the best course of action at that moment,' she said. 'The risk of him turning to violence, and I decided in that moment that the smartest thing to do is just to check out and endure it and leave.' Haley, 48, took the stand for the second time to recount the alleged assaults after the state Court of Appeals in April 2024 overturned Weinstein's conviction after concluding that the judge at his first trial tipped the scales against him by allowing women to testify about allegations that weren't part of the case. Weinstein is charged with one count of engaging in a criminal sex act in connection with Haley's allegations that he forcibly performed oral sex on her in June 2006. He is also charged with one count of third-degree rape for allegedly assaulting actress Jessica Mann in 2013. Mann also testified at Weinstein's first trial and is expected to take the stand again at his retrial. New to the retrial is an additional charge of engaging in a first-degree criminal sexual act for the alleged assault of a Polish former model named Kaja Sokola. Sokola, who was not part of the 2020 trial, claimed in a lawsuit that she was 16 when Weinstein in 2006 performed oral sex on her without her consent at a Manhattan hotel. She, too, is expected to testify at Weinstein's retrial. Weinstein, 73, has denied assaulting the three women. Prosecutors contend Weinstein used his Hollywood clout to prey on young women like Haley who were searching for jobs in the TV and film industry — and to silence them after the alleged assaults. 'He knew how addictive Hollywood dreams were,' Assistant District Attorney Shannon Lucey said during opening arguments. 'He knew how the promises of success worked.' Under questioning by Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg, Haley said she was too embarrassed and afraid of what Weinstein would do to her to go report the alleged assaults to the police. 'I had no idea there were other people in the same situation,' Haley said. 'I thought it was just me.' Weinstein's lead lawyer, Arthur Aidala, then objected and moved for a mistrial saying 'she just told the jury there were others.' Manhattan Judge Curtis Farber denied Aidala's request for a mistrial. Aidala has characterized Weinstein's sexual encounters with the accusers as 'transactional' and 'consensual.' On Tuesday, Haley said she met Weinstein in 2004 at the after-party for the movie premiere of 'The Aviator.' She said she reconnected with Weinstein several years later at the Cannes Film Festival in France. Haley said she was looking for an opportunity as a production assistant in New York and agreed to meet him at his hotel. But when she got there, Haley said Weinstein began pressuring her to give him a massage. Haley said she felt 'humiliated' and rebuffed Weinstein's advances. Haley said Weinstein did arrange for her to work on 'Project Runway,' even though he knew she lacked a U.S. work visa. She was raised in Finland and Sweden.
