Retrial of Harvey Weinstein's rape charge ends in a hung jury, with jury members failing to reach a unanimous decision.
In a shocking turn of events, Harvey Weinstein's sex crimes retrial hit a sudden roadblock on Thursday. The jury foreman, after experiencing tense discussions with fellow jurors, refused to return for further deliberations, resulting in a mistrial on the third-degree rape count.
Judge Curtis Farber was informed by the foreman on Wednesday that jurors were allegedly yelling and trying to persuade him to change his decision. When asked to return to the deliberation room the following day, the foreman declined, saying, "I'm sorry, but I cannot." Farber then dismissed the remaining jurors.
Weinstein, the disgraced movie mogul, stands accused of sexually assaulting three women over a decade ago in New York City. The mistrial comes a day after the jury convicted Weinstein on one count of criminal sex act involving Mimi Haley and acquitted him of another count involving Kaja Sokola. The contested third count pertained to an alleged assault on aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013.
Following the mistrial, Farber spoke to the remaining jurors who expressed disappointment at not being able to render a verdict on the third count. However, they did not describe the discord and threats reported by the foreman.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who is prosecuting the case, stated he is prepared to try Weinstein again on the rape count following consultation with Mann. Bragg praised the courage of the three women who came forward and testified, despite facing harsh criticism and attacks during the trial.[1]
Attorney for Weinstein, Arthur Aidala, announced plans to appeal the conviction in the retrial. Aidala accused the jury of misconduct and claimed they were discussing evidence not admitted at trial, while the judge's chambers.[1] Moreover, the foreperson was found discussing Weinstein's past with jurors, prompting Judge Farber to remind them to solely focus on the evidence presented at trial.[1]
The trial is a re-examination of the initial conviction, which was overturned on appeal, and also includes charges against Sokola, who was not part of the first trial. Weinstein has claimed that his encounters were consensual and has not testified during the trial.[1]
This turn of events does not mark the end of Mann's pursuit for justice; she confirmed her readiness to testify for a potential third time, reiterating her commitment to ensuring her voice is heard.[1]
New York's highest court overturned Weinstein's initial 2020 conviction last year, citing erroneous admission of testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes. Weinstein is also appealing his 2022 conviction on sex offenses in Los Angeles, for which he was sentenced to 16 years in prison.[1]
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
[1] [Source From Original Article]
- The mistrial in Harvey Weinstein's sex crimes retrial, centered on the third-degree rape count, has opened a path for a potential re-trial concerning the crime-and-justice sector, as Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg intends to follow up on the case.
- Meanwhile, the controversy over misconduct within the jury continues to brew, as Weinstein's attorney claims the jurors were discussing evidence not admitted at trial, which could have a significant impact on the general-news landscape and the integrity of the justice system.
- The high-profile politics surrounding Weinstein's case remain unyielding, with actress Jessica Mann ready to testify once more in her pursuit of justice, despite enduring criticism, attacks, and the looming prospect of further public scrutiny in the realm of entertainment and beyond.
