"Speaking Out: Kaja Sokola Accuses Harvey Weinstein"
Teenager claims sexual misconduct by Weinstein at age 16
After years of silence, a former model named Kaja Sokola is boldly accusing Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault and rape in the reopened trial against the disgraced film producer.
In the retrial now underway in New York, Sokola is one of several women alleging misconduct by Weinstein, who is now 73. She testified in court about an incident that took place in 2002 when she was just 16 years old and met Weinstein for the first time.
Sokola described the encounter, filled with fear and embarrassment, as she had "never been in an intimate situation before." The now 39-year-old wept as she shared her account, stating, "I was scared, I was ashamed."
New Evidence in the Retrial
Weinstein was initially sentenced to 23 years in prison in 2020 for sexual assault and rape, but the New York court overturned this verdict due to procedural errors and ordered a new trial, commencing in April 2024. This new trial is more narrowly focused on specific allegations, including a new charge of forced oral sex.
Sokola initially accused Weinstein of assault in 2006, when she was 19 years old. Unfortunately, the charges related to the 2002 incident are statute-barred. Nevertheless, Sokola detailed her account of that fateful day in court, describing her initial meeting with Weinstein at a dinner in Manhattan with other models during her first solo trip to New York. She felt "very special" when the much older film producer approached her.
Alleged Rape in 2006
Weinstein then invited Sokola to lunch and took her to a Manhattan apartment. There, he pressured her to undress, insisting she needed to do so if she wanted to become an actress. Despite her resistance, he performed sexual acts on her. When asked why she didn't report the incidents at the time, Sokola admitted she felt ashamed and believed it was all her fault.
She later described an incident that occurred in 2006, when Weinstein lured her into a Manhattan hotel room and forced her to have sex. Her testimony is expected to continue during the trial.
Harvey Weinstein's lawyers have argued that he will be proved innocent. The trial is currently ongoing, with many other women also coming forward to accuse Weinstein of misconduct.
Sources: ntv.de, lar/AFP
* Harvey Weinstein
* Trials
* Justice
* Crime
* New York
* USA
[1] Update on Harvey Weinstein Retrial
[2] Detailed Coverage of Kaja Sokola's Testimony (as of early 2024, no dedicated coverage found)
- Kaja Sokola, a former model, is testifying in the retrial against Harvey Weinstein, sharing her account of a 2002 encounter with the disgraced film producer when she was just 16 years old.
- The entertaining world, including movies and TV, and general news outlets, are following the ongoing retrial of Harvey Weinstein, known for his misconduct in the entertainment industry.
- In addition to Sokola, many other celebrities and members of the general public have accused Weinstein of various crimes and misconduct, as he faces a new trial in 2024.
- The reopened trial is focused on specific allegations, including a new charge of forced oral sex, and includes testimony from Sokola about an incident in 2006 where Weinstein allegedly raped her in a Manhattan hotel room.
- Despite facing multiple allegations, Weinstein's defense lawyers argue that he will be proved innocent, as the trial continues to unfold with new evidence and testimony.
