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© Reuters. Former movie producer Harvey Weinstein seems in courtroom on the Clara Shortridge Foltz Prison Justice Heart in Los Angeles, California, USA, 04 October 2022. Harvey Weinstein was extradited from New York to Los Angeles to face sex-related fees. Etienn
By Lisa Richwine
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulted younger girls hoping to make it in Hollywood, a Los Angeles prosecutor argued on Monday, whereas the previous producer’s legal professional stated his accusers willingly took half in a “casting sofa” tradition to spice up their careers.
Weinstein, the person who grew to become the face of #MeToo allegations 5 years in the past, is presently serving a 23-year jail sentence for intercourse crimes in New York. He’s now on trial in Los Angeles on 11 fees of rape and sexual assault and has pleaded not responsible.
In opening statements, Deputy District Lawyer Paul Thompson provided graphic particulars and quotes from girls who stated Weinstein invited them to lodge rooms for purported enterprise conferences between 1991 and 2015.
“He was attempting to maintain his penis in my mouth,” Thompson quoted one as saying.
He quoted one other as saying Weinstein undressed her and fondled her breast whereas masturbating.
Weinstein, seated within the courtroom in a darkish swimsuit and tie, sometimes shook his head whereas Thompson spoke.
Alleged incidents involving 4 of the ladies are the idea of the fees in opposition to Weinstein. The opposite 4 girls, who had encounters outdoors of Los Angeles, will likely be offered by prosecutors to attempt to set up a sample of conduct.
Weinstein lawyer Mark Werksman instructed jurors that every allegation was a “weak and unsubstantiated trickle that may evaporate upon your shut scrutiny.”
“You’ll study that in Hollywood, intercourse was a commodity,”Werksman stated. “It was the casting sofa. Everybody did it … as a result of every wished one thing from one other,” Werksman stated.
“Now have a look at him,” Werksman added. “He’s not Brad Pitt or George Clooney. Do you suppose these stunning girls had intercourse with him as a result of he’s scorching? No. They did it as a result of he was highly effective.”
Werksman additionally famous that every of the ladies got here ahead solely after studies about Weinstein’s conduct helped gasoline the #MeToo motion of girls talking out about sexual harassment and abuse in Hollywood and past.
Thompson stated not one of the accusers spoke publicly on the time as a result of they anxious Weinstein “might crush their careers.” He confirmed the jury film posters of “Pulp Fiction,” “Shakespeare in Love” and different Weinstein productions.
“Right now, this was essentially the most highly effective particular person within the trade,” Thompson quoted one of many girls as saying.
One other stated: “He was king.”
Weinstein, 70, was convicted of sexual misconduct in New York in February 2020. He was extradited from New York to a Los Angeles jail in July 2021.
In New York, Weinstein is interesting his conviction and 23-year jail sentence. He might resist 140 years in jail if convicted on all the fees in Los Angeles.
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