BOSTON (AP) — Lawyers for each the protection and prosecution rested Tuesday in movie star chef Mario Batali’s sexual misconduct trial in Boston.
The second day of the trial in Boston Municipal Court resumed with testimony from a good friend of the lady who says the previous Food Network star kissed and groped her whereas she tried to take a selfie at a Boston bar in 2017.
The protection didn’t name any witnesses and Batali didn’t testify in his protection. Lawyers are anticipated to ship their closing arguments later Tuesday and the case will likely be handed to the choose for a verdict.
In an uncommon transfer, Batali waived his proper to a jury trial when the proceedings opened Monday.
Batali’s accuser, a 32-year-old software program firm employee, testified Monday that she’d felt confused, powerless and embarrassed to share her story till different ladies stepped ahead to share related encounters with Batali.
But Batali’s lawyer sought to discredit her, arguing that the assault by no means occurred.
He stated the accuser has a monetary incentive to lie as she’s looking for greater than $50,000 in damages from Batali in a separate civil lawsuit.
Batali, who pleaded not responsible to indecent assault and battery in 2019, may resist 2 1/2 years in jail and be required to register as a intercourse offender if convicted.
The 61-year-old, who was as soon as a fixture on exhibits like “Molto Mario” and “Iron Chef America,” is amongst plenty of high-profile males who’ve confronted a public reckoning through the #MeToo social motion towards sexual abuse and harassment lately.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”