Hollywood Mogul Harvey Weinstein Faces Split Verdict in New York Retrial
Weinstein Once More Convicted for Sexual Misconduct
In a surprising turn of events, a jury in New York has delivered a split verdict in the retrial of Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The jury found him guilty of a criminal sex act involving Miriam Haley, but was unable to reach a decision on a third-degree rape charge involving Jessica Mann. They acquitted him of another criminal sex act charge related to Kaja Sokola.
This split verdict has led to a mistrial on the rape charge, as the jury couldn't agree on a unanimous verdict after multiple days of deliberation. Allegations of juror intimidation may have played a role in the situation, causing the judge to declare a mistrial.
In the initial trial in 2020, Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison. However, the conviction was overturned last year by New York's highest court due to procedural errors, leading to a retrial.
The Jury's Struggles
initial disagreement among the jurors could have resulted in a mistrial. On Monday, notes from the deliberating jury expressed concerns about the situation and requests for clarification on the "burden of proof" and verdict requirements, aiming to avoid a hung jury. A juror also complained about fellow jury members during deliberations and requested to be excused, but this request was denied.
The Fall of a Hollywood Powerhouse
Weinstein is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence in California for additional sexual crimes. The former Hollywood powerhouse, renowned for producing films such as "Pulp Fiction" and "Shakespeare in Love," has been accused by three women of rape and sexual harassment in the trial. Weinstein denies the allegations and maintains that all sexual encounters were consensual, choosing not to testify during the trial.
The name Weinstein became a global symbol for men who abuse their power over women following the exposure of his behavior in 2017 by the "New York Times" and "New Yorker," sparking the #MeToo movement.
- #MeToo
- Harvey Weinstein
- Trials
[1] ntv.de, mau/AFP[2] Reuters[3] The New York Times
In the retrial of Harvey Weinstein, the global symbol of the #MeToo movement, a jury has delivered a split verdict, acquitting him of one criminal sex act charge but being unable to reach a decision on a third-degree rape charge. The jurors' initial disagreement and a potential request for excusal may have contributed to the mistrial on the rape charge.
