LOS ANGELES — The decide on the Los Angeles trial of Harvey Weinstein dropped 4 of the 11 sexual assault expenses in opposition to the film mogul Tuesday after prosecutors stated they might not proceed with the counts involving one in every of his accusers.
Superior Court Judge Lisa Lench dismissed two counts of forcible rape and two counts of forcible oral copulation in opposition to the 70-year-old Weinstein.
The transfer had appeared seemingly for the reason that trial’s opening statements three weeks in the past, when prosecutors throughout opening statements solely talked about 4 girls Weinstein was charged with assaulting, leaving out the accuser recognized in an indictment as Jane Doe #5.
The prosecutors at first stored the costs in place and left open the chance that the lady would testify, whereas Weinstein’s protection had sought a definitive determination on the difficulty.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has not offered an evidence for why they opted to go away the lady out of the trial.
The remaining expenses in opposition to Weinstein, who’s serving a 23-year sentence for a conviction in New York, are two counts of rape and 5 different sexual assault counts.
He has pleaded not responsible and has stated he didn’t interact in non-consensual intercourse.
The trial was marked Monday by emotional testimony from Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a documentary filmmaker and the spouse of California governor Gavin Newsom.
“He knows this is not normal!” Siebel Newsom shouted from the witness stand, recalling her ideas amid the alleged 2005 rape. “He knows this is not consent!”
She then shouted “Oh God!” as if overcome by the reminiscence, and gave in to the crying. Weinstein watched from the protection desk.
She then gave a graphic description of an alleged sexual assault and rape by Weinstein within the bed room of the resort the place he had requested her to satisfy him.
Weinstein’s attorneys stated the 2 had consensual intercourse and that she was in search of to make use of the highly effective producer to advance her profession.
Siebel Newsom is the fourth girl Weinstein is accused of sexually assaulting who has taken the stand in Los Angeles. Her testimony was probably the most dramatic and emotional up to now within the three-week trial. She cried all through her 2 1/2 hours on the stand, starting with when she was requested to establish the 70-year-old Weinstein for the file.
“He’s wearing a suit, and a blue tie, and he’s staring at me,” she stated as tears started to movement.
Siebel Newsom is named Jane Doe #4 on the trial, and just like the others Weinstein is charged with raping or sexually assaulting, her identify is just not being spoken in courtroom. But each the prosecution and the protection have recognized her because the governor’s spouse throughout the trial, and Siebel Newsom’s lawyer confirmed to The Associated Press and different information shops that she is Jane Doe #4.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”