Aastha Thakur
Published on: 20 December 2022 at 10:27 IST
Former Hollywood movie producer Harvey Weinstein was convicted for rape and two other sexual assault offences by a Los Angeles jury on Monday. The trial was another case fueled by #MeToo moment, after he became face of the movement five years ago.
After the two weeks of contemplation, the jury of eight men and four women reached the verdict, finding him guilty of rape, forcible oral copulation and sexual penetration by a foreign object involving one woman, stated by the Los Angeles Superior Court.
However, the jury was unable to reach a decision on two allegations, involving Jennifer Siebel Newsom. A mistrial was declared on those counts.
Former model and actress the wife of California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who previously disclosed she was Jane Doe 4 in the trial.
Jurors were 10-2 in favor of conviction of the sexual battery of a massage therapist. They were 8-4 in favor of conviction on the rape and sexual assault counts involving Siebel Newsom.
On account where the jury was unable to reach decision, the Superior Court Judge Lisa Lench declared it mistrial including the allegations made by Siebel Newsom.
The women alleged that the on the pretext of business meetings, offering them chance for securing an audition or a book deal, Weinstein has routinely abused his position.
The defence attorneys however, submitted all these sexual encounters were consensual and women willingly were part of it. They believed that he would help them with their careers, part of what they said was a widespread “casting couch” culture in the film industry. In two of the cases, they said the sexual contact was fabricated.
Weinston, 70, is already serving 23-year sentence for a rape and sexual assault conviction in New York.