New York — A New York judge declared a mistrial on Friday Harvey Weinstein A rape case from the #MeToo era that has gone to trial Three times so far After the jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision.
The trial centered on whether or not Weinstein was raped Jessica Manna hairstylist and actor, was killed in 2013 during a relationship between the then-married Weinstein and the decades-younger Mann. Weinstein’s lawyers argued that the encounter was consensual, while Mann described an encounter in a hotel room when he forced himself on her.
The current jury heard nearly three weeks of testimony, including Mann’s testimony. Weinstein decided not to testify.
Here’s what you need to know about the issue:
Weinstein was first Doomed in 2020But the Court of Appeal This ruling was overturned After the court ruled that the trial judge unfairly allowed testimony against Weinstein based on allegations that were not part of the case.
Jurors in a retrial last year convicted Weinstein of a criminal sexual act and acquitted him of another charge. But they are I stopped deliberating on the rape charge against Mann when the presiding judge refused to participate further, leaving the case unresolved and leading to a retrial that ended in a mistrial on Friday.
On the third day of deliberations, the jury told the judge they were stuck, but he told them to keep trying. Eventually, they sent another memo saying, “We feel no one will change their position.”
When a jury in criminal court cannot reach a unanimous decision, the judge usually declares a mistrial.
Some jurors in the majority-male Manhattan jury questioned the credibility of Mann’s testimony and said outside court that nine out of 12 wanted to acquit Weinstein.
One of the jurors, Josh Hadar, said Mann had an “amazing memory” when she testified for the prosecution but “forgot a lot of things” when defense lawyers questioned her.
Mann submitted Five days Of often tearful testimony that involved hours of questioning at a time.
Prosecutor Alvin Bragg said his staff will consult with Mann about another trial and will also take into account what happens to Weinstein when he is found guilty from the last trial.
A hearing is scheduled for June 24 for prosecutors to decide whether to proceed with a fourth trial.
Weinstein was in a New York prison serving a 23-year sentence after his initial conviction in 2020. After that was overturned, he remained behind bars because he was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 on charges of rape, sexual assault and sexual assault. convicted Up to 16 years in prison. He is currently being held at Rikers Island Jail awaiting further legal action.
During a retrial last June, Weinstein was found guilty of a criminal sexual act, when a jury found that he had forcibly performed oral sex on a television and film producer and production assistant, Miriam Haley, nearly two decades earlier.
She had worked on Weinstein’s “Project Runway” show and testified that he assaulted her in July 2006 after he invited her to stop by his SoHo apartment before a trip. Weinstein is appealing the conviction.
In Los Angeles, he was convicted during a trial in December 2022 of rape and two counts of sexual assault against an Italian actor and model. The woman said he arrived uninvited at her hotel room during a 2013 film festival in the lead-up to the Oscars, entered her and assaulted her.
The Associated Press does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted, unless they choose to reveal their names, as Mann and Healey did.