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The second trial of Harvey Weinstein will get underway this week in a Los Angeles courtroom, in a case that figures to be extra sprawling and sophisticated than his first trial in New York.
The trial is predicted to last as long as two months, as Weinstein faces testimony from 9 sexual assault accusers — up from six in New York. Jury choice begins on Monday and is predicted to take at the least two weeks, as either side search to display screen out jurors who could also be prejudiced by ubiquitous pre-trial publicity.
Weinstein, 70, is already serving a 23-year sentence after being convicted of rape and sexual assault two years in the past. The New York Court docket of Appeals has agreed to listen to his case, however a conviction in Los Angeles — the place he faces as much as 140 years behind bars — may successfully assure that he by no means goes free.
The Los Angeles trial will resemble the primary trial in some ways. One of many Los Angeles victims, Jane Doe #2, even testified as a supporting witness in New York. The prosecution is predicted to argue that Weinstein used his energy and the promise of profession development to lure ladies to lodge rooms, the place he sexually assaulted them. The protection is predicted to argue that the ladies are mendacity and that a few of them carried on consensual relationships with Weinstein afterwards.
Weinstein is going through 11 expenses relating to 5 ladies, which span from 2004 to 2013. The ladies will probably be known as Jane Does 1 by means of 5 in court docket, although their identities could develop into clear as soon as the trial is underway.
Jane Doe 1 is an Italian mannequin who alleges that Weinstein raped her at her lodge throughout the L.A.-Italia movie pageant in February 2013. Prosecutors have already begun taking testimony from two witnesses associated to her allegations. A limo driver, Alfred Baroth, testified in February that he introduced Weinstein from the airport in Van Nuys to the pageant, and later took him to the Peninsula Resort in Beverly Hills. The girl alleges that Weinstein confirmed up late that evening on the Mr C. lodge, which is adjoining to Beverly Hills, and compelled his means into her room.
Prosecutors additionally took testimony final week from Pascal Vicedomini, the producer of the pageant. Vicedomini appeared by way of Zoom, and spoke by means of an Italian interpreter. The questioning prolonged for a number of hours, and was videotaped with the thought of probably taking part in it for the jury.
Vicedomini was mentioned to have launched Jane Doe 1 and Weinstein, although he appeared to not bear in mind a lot of the encounter. He was additionally requested if Jane Doe 1 had requested him to assist return Weinstein’s jacket, which he had supposedly left in her lodge room after the alleged assault. Vicedomini had no reminiscence of that both.
“I don’t know what jacket you’re speaking about,” he mentioned.
Decide Lisa B. Lench allowed 4 further ladies to testify as so-called “prior unhealthy acts” witnesses. Such testimony was utilized in Weinstein’s first trial and within the trials of Invoice Cosby. The prosecution wished to name 15 ladies to testify, although the choose excluded 10 of these witnesses, together with Daryl Hannah and Rose McGowan. An extra witness — identified in court docket solely as Miss I. — modified her thoughts and determined to not testify, leaving the prosecution with solely 4.
The jury can also be anticipated to listen to from buddies and confidants of the accusers, with whom they might have shared their allegations contemporaneously.
Complicating issues for the protection, Common will launch “She Mentioned” — a characteristic movie in regards to the two New York Occasions reporters who broke the Weinstein scandal 5 years in the past — in the course of the trial. The movie, produced by Brad Pitt and starring Zoe Kazan and Carrie Mulligan, will debut on Thursday on the New York Movie Competition, and will probably be launched in theaters on Nov. 18.
“That is assured to be an enormous deal within the public consciousness,” argued Mark Werksman, one among Weinstein’s attorneys, in looking for a delay within the case in August.
Lench denied the request, saying she would instruct the jurors to not watch the movie.
“I don’t assume there’s going to be a time when there isn’t media protection with regard to this case,” she mentioned.
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