The growing list of witnesses and evidence against Harvey Weinstein – The Hollywood Reporter
Proof that the Harvey Weinstein accusers’ accounts are going against the former movie mogul.
Prosecutors will be allowed to introduce the jury of witnesses, who will back up testimony from the women Weinstein allegedly sexually assaulted. There will be nine whistleblowers in total. Of the nine, Weinstein is on trial for raping four of them. The rest were victims of Weinstein’s alleged sexual assaults.
Judge Lisa Lench on Friday ruled that she would allow testimony from a witness to corroborate the account an alleged victim of Weinstein, who was expected to testify at trial but did not were among the women Weinstein was accused of raping. The prosecution wanted to introduce two witnesses, while the defense sought to exclude both.
So-called “new claimant” witnesses are allowed to be introduced as an exception to the hearing bulletin. That’s not the case here, defense attorney Mark Werksman said, because “when eight years later and accused a victim after it was widely publicized that the defendant was arrested for sexual assault, it was Just a rumour.”
Prosecutor Paul Thompson emphasized that judges usually allow at least one witness to “make a new claim” and “possibly two if the second person adds something to the conversation.” Regarding one of the potential witnesses, Thompson said he added a “very early disclosure” and that he was “very specific about when it happened”, during the 2008 financial crisis – the year that accused of assault.
Thompson added that the purpose of testimony from witnesses was not the content of what they said but disclosure. “The purpose is to show when a disclosure was made, that a disclosure was made and it was brought against the defendant,” he said.
Controversies over the wide range of witnesses testifying against Weinstein and corroborating the accounts of those who testify against him flared up as the prosecution sought to allow a witness who would testify about Weinstein’s claim. acknowledged in advance in a settlement conference in 1998 to which he had consent issues.
According to Werksman, Weinstein said “something has an effect on.” Sometimes I don’t know when things are agreed. I am trying to learn. Sometimes I don’t realize my strength. “He argued that witness testimony was a “backdoor way” to sneak evidence of another alleged assault, that references to settlements were forbidden and that it was rumour.
Although the judge did not rule on the testimony, Werksman stressed that the court was allowing too much evidence of Weinstein’s “bad behavior.” “We now have five unaccused witnesses for five accused victims,” he said. “That ratio is dangerous prejudice. I don’t know how the jury will judge his guilt.”
In addition to the four women Weinstein is accused of assaulting, five women will testify about the alleged assaults. On October 14, Werksman warned that the courts were allowing too many witnesses.
“There is a real risk that Mr Weinstein will be convicted by count, rather than merit,” he said.
Weinstein appealed his New York conviction based on testimony about previous misconduct by three women, but a court of appeals in June found evidence of his unaccused crimes. is fair game against the defense’s argument that Weinstein believes his accusers agree.
On Thursday, a jury of nine men and three women sat from a pool of 225 potential jurors. Eight alternatives were also selected. The opening statement will begin on Monday.
Weinstein was charged with 11 sex crimes, including rape, in connection with the assault on five women between 2004 and 2013, which combined to a sentence of 140 years.
