Teenager alleges sexual abuse by Weinstein at 16 years old.
In the ongoing re-trial of Harvey Weinstein, Kaja Sokola, a former model, testified against the former Hollywood producer with tears in her eyes. The Polish woman recounted a disturbing incident from 2006 when she was 19, but she also described a prior alleged incident in 2002 when she was only 16. "I was merely a kid, I felt lost, ashamed," Sokola revealed during her emotional testimony.
Sokola's accusations, along with those of Jessica Mann and Miriam Haley, are at the forefront of the current trial. Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison in 2020 for sexual assault and rape but was granted a re-trial due to procedural errors.
The 2006 Allegation
In 2006, Sokola states that Weinstein lured her into a Manhattan hotel room and forced her into a sexual encounter. She then recalls her reluctance to come forward due to shame and a belief that it was her fault.
The 2002 Allegation
Sokola disclosed that she had initially met Weinstein at a dinner in a Manhattan restaurant in 2002, during her first solo trip to New York. She felt "overwhelmed" by Weinstein's attention and Compliance was expected if she wanted to pursue an acting career. Sokola alleged that Weinstein coerced her into sexual acts at a Manhattan apartment.
The Prosecution and Defense
Prosecutors aim to establish that Weinstein exploited his position in the entertainment industry to coerce women into sexual encounters. Defense lawyers are expected to focus on inconsistencies in the accusers' accounts to challenge the reliability of the accusations.
Harvey Weinstein's Health
Weinstein, now 73, grapples with health challenges, including treatment for his bone marrow cancer and recent heart surgery. Instead of being confined at Rikers Island, he has been permitted to remain at Bellevue Hospital for the duration of the trial.
Source: ntv.de, lar/AFP
- Harvey Weinstein
- Trials
- Justice
- Crime
- New York
- USA
Enrichment Data Overview:
Sokola's testimony in the Weinstein retrial involves allegations from both 2002 and 2006. While the 2002 allegation is statute-barred, Sokola's 2006 accusation is being examined alongside those of Jessica Mann and Miriam Haley.
- Background: Sokola initially spoke to prosecutors about the 2006 allegation during the 2020 trial but was not presented to the jury.
- Charges: The trial focuses on rape and criminal sexual acts charges against Weinstein.
- Legal Context: The re-trial follows an appeals court decision that overturned Weinstein's 2020 conviction due to the inclusion of "Molineux evidence" from witnesses not directly involved in the charged crimes.
- Defense and Prosecution Strategies: Prosecutors aim to show that Weinstein utilized his influence in the entertainment industry to manipulate women. The defense is expected to question the consistency in the accusers' stories.
- Harvey Weinstein's Status: Weinstein's health challenges have allowed him to undergo treatment while continuing the trial.
- Kaja Sokola, a former model, is testifying against Harvey Weinstein in his ongoing re-trial, revealing that he allegedly assaulted her when she was just 16 in 2002.
- The 2006 incident, where Sokola states Weinstein forced her into a sexual encounter in a Manhattan hotel, along with the accusations of Jessica Mann and Miriam Haley, are the focus of Weinstein's current trial.
- Despite the 2002 allegation being statute-barred, Sokola's 2006 accusation is being investigated in light of the re-trial.
- Prosecutors aim to establish that Weinstein exploited his position in the entertainment industry and Hollywood to coerce women into sexual encounters, while defense lawyers are focusing on inconsistencies in the accusers' accounts.
- Weinstein, who is grappling with health challenges including treatment for bone marrow cancer and recent heart surgery, has been permitted to remain at Bellevue Hospital for the duration of the re-trial instead of being confined at Rikers Island.
