Harvey Weinstein is going through 4 rape fees and 7 different counts of sexual assault in Los Angeles.
Opening statements within the case are anticipated to start immediately.
The fees are the most recent in a protracted line of allegations in opposition to the disgraced film mogul – beforehand thought of Hollywood royalty, and one of the vital award-winning producers in historical past.
The 70-year-old is already serving 23 years in jail in California for rape and sexual assault after being convicted in New York in 2020.
Here are all the small print on his newest courtroom case.
What has Weinstein been accused of?
Weinstein stands accused of 11 counts of rape and sexual assault in opposition to 5 girls in LA and Beverley Hills between 2004 and 2013.
He has pleaded not responsible to the fees.
If convicted on all 11 counts, Weinstein could possibly be sentenced to as much as 140 years in jail.
Who are Weinstein’s accusers?
Documentary filmmaker and actress Jennifer Siebel Newsom is among the 5 girls accusing Weinstein.
She appeared in small roles in dozens of movies and tv exhibits between 2002 and 2011, and has not too long ago directed gender-focused documentaries together with The Great American Lie and Fair Play. She is married to California governor Gavin Newsom.
She initially wrote about her expertise with Weinstein in a 2017 essay within the Huffington Post, however revealed few particulars on the time.
Ms Newsom’s lawyer, Elizabeth Fegan, mentioned in an announcement: “Like many other women, my client was sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein at a purported business meeting that turned out to be a trap.
“She intends to testify at his trial to be able to search some measure of justice for survivors, and as a part of her life’s work to enhance the lives of girls.”
The four other women will remain anonymous and give evidence as Jane Doe.
Most of the alleged incidents, like Mrs Newsom’s, happened under the guise of business meetings at luxury hotels in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, which Weinstein used as his California headquarters during awards season and throughout the year.
Four of the alleged attacks are said to have occurred during Oscars week 2013, where Weinstein’s hit movies Silver Linings Playbook and Django Unchained took home numerous statuettes.
Who are the witnesses?
The preliminary witness record had over 270 names on, though the ultimate record is predicted to have fewer than half that quantity. The record has not been made public.
One witness, Barbara Schneeweiss, a producer on Project Runway and different tv exhibits, was current in courtroom and was informed by a choose she was on name to come back in at any time.
The jurors had been additionally given a protracted record of names of witnesses within the coming trial, together with these of the accusers, to find out whether or not they have any connection to them.
Read extra:
Harvey Weinstein: The fall of the king of Hollywood
The prosecution will even be allowed to introduce as proof components of Weinstein’s New York conviction for rape and sexual assault.
One potential witness in opposition to Weinstein is Hollywood actor and director Mel Gibson after a choose dominated he can testify.
Prosecutors say Gibson, who received an Oscar for guiding Braveheart, was a pal of one of many accusers.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lisa Lench dominated Gibson may testify about what the pal informed him about Weinstein, although the choose mentioned she may change her thoughts relying on the pal’s testimony.
Will there be a jury?
It is a jury trial, and 12 jurors – 9 males and three girls – have been chosen.
They seem to largely be aged between 40 and 70. Some seem like older than that, and one man seems to be in his early to mid-20s.
Ten alternate jurors will even attend the total size of the trial, able to step in and substitute any of the jury of 12, ought to anybody develop into unable to serve.
They had been chosen from a pool of 225 potential jurors, all of whom crammed out a prolonged questionnaire.
It is known to have contained questions together with how a lot media protection of Weinstein that they had seen, and whether or not they had shaped opinions from it.
There was additionally a query a couple of California legislation that claims the testimony alone of a sexual assault sufferer will be ample proof to convict if a juror believes them.
What occurred throughout the 2020 New York trial?
Weinstein is presently serving a 23-year jail sentence in California, after being extradited there following his conviction in March 2020 for assaulting manufacturing assistant Mimi Haleyi at his condo in 2006 and third-degree rape of Jessica Mann in 2013.
He is presently interesting these convictions.
During a landmark trial, greater than 100 girls, together with well-known actresses akin to Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek and Uma Thurman, Weinstein was accused of sexual misconduct stretching again a long time – fuelling the #MeToo motion in opposition to sexual abuse and harassment.
He was acquitted of first-degree rape and two counts of predatory sexual assault courting again to the Nineties.
Previous to his extradition to California, he was serving his sentence at Wende Correctional Facility in Buffalo, New York – a most safety jail.
How did Weinstein fall from grace?
Harvey Weinstein was as soon as the king of Hollywood, a person with the facility to make and break careers within the motion pictures.
But in October 2017, in reviews by the New York Times and the New Yorker, the Oscar-winning producer was accused of sexual misconduct by a variety of girls. He was additionally accused of reaching settlements to maintain the tales quiet.
In the months that adopted, dozens extra girls got here ahead to allege incidents of rape, sexual assault and harassment by Weinstein courting again a long time.
Police investigations into the allegations stretched from Los Angeles to New York and London.
Weinstein admitted his behaviour had “caused a lot of pain”, however persistently denied all of the sexual allegations made in opposition to him.
In September 2020, Weinstein was stripped of his CBE following his conviction.
Numerous different distinctions bestowed on Weinstein throughout his profession – together with France’s prestigious Legion of Honour – have been revoked since allegations in opposition to him first surfaced.
The multi-Oscar winner, who was answerable for blockbusters together with Pulp Fiction, The English Patient, Good Will Hunting, Gangs Of New York and Shakespeare In Love, was expelled from the Academy in 2017.
They had beforehand nominated his work for 341 awards, incomes him 81 statuettes over the past 26 years.
Source: information.sky.com”