Mistrial declared in Weinstein case over rape cost
A New York decide declared a mistrial on a rape cost in Harvey Weinstein’s intercourse crimes trial after one juror refused to proceed deliberations over an alleged assault in 2013 on actress Jessica Mann.
The jury had discovered Weinstein responsible of 1 depend of sexual assault and never responsible of one other depend on Wednesday, however stored deliberating a few remaining rape cost.
Thursday’s mistrial comes after Weinstein’s earlier intercourse crimes conviction within the state was overturned final yr, resulting in new prices final September.
A panel of seven feminine and 5 male jurors deliberated for six days within the six-week trial earlier than one juror declined to proceed discussions.
Jury deliberations within the trial had been plagued with tensions. The jury foreperson introduced considerations to the decide earlier this week, saying jurors had been “attacking” each other and making an attempt to vary his thoughts.
On Wednesday, he introduced extra complaints to the decide, indicating that “at the least one different juror made feedback to the impact of ‘I will meet you exterior sooner or later,’ and there is yelling and screaming”, Choose Curtis Farber advised the court docket.
On Thursday, the foreperson stated he wouldn’t return to the jury room to deliberate as a result of he was afraid of others yelling at him, so the decide declared a mistrial on the final rape cost.
“Typically jury deliberations grow to be heated. I perceive this specific deliberation was extra wanted than some others,” Choose Farber advised the 12-person jury, in line with US media.
An appeals court docket overturned Weinstein’s earlier conviction for intercourse crimes in New York final April, discovering the 73-year-old didn’t obtain a good trial in 2020 as a result of a decide allowed testimony from girls who made allegations towards him past the costs at hand.
The 2025 trial was based mostly on the testimony of three girls – former tv manufacturing assistant Miriam Haley, actress Jessica Mann, and Polish mannequin Kaja Sokola. All three accused Weinstein of utilizing his energy within the leisure trade to sexually abuse them. Ms Haley and Ms Mann each testified within the first trial towards Weinstein, when he was discovered responsible.
This time, the jury discovered Weinstein responsible of sexually assaulting Ms Haley, however acquitted him of assaulting Ms Sokola. A mistrial was declared on the rape cost introduced by Ms Mann.
The most recent conviction is along with a 16-year sentence that Weinstein has but to serve after being convicted of intercourse crimes in Los Angeles.