Producer Harvey Weinstein is sentenced to 16 more years in prison – he had previously been convicted of rape and sexual harassment in New York and is serving a 23-year sentence. It has been reported Reuters.
The decision was handed down by a Los Angeles court on February 23. The jury found Weinstein guilty of three counts of rape and sexual assault (beating) against the victim – a European model and actress – who anonymously testified as “Jane Doe #1”. According to investigators, Weinstein committed these crimes in 2013 in Beverly Hills where the filmmaker assaulted the actor in a hotel room.
“Ten years later, it’s still not easy to discuss the consequences. I carry this burden, this trauma. As well as an irrational belief that what happened was my fault,” the victim said during the announcement of the verdict.
The jury also acquitted Weinstein of assaulting another woman, a masseuse, and was unable to reach a verdict on whether he raped two other women, including actress and film producer Jennifer Siebel Newsom, who is now married to California governor Gavin Newsom.
Former ex-actress Lisa Pekar statedShe said Harvey Weinstein forced her to have oral sex in a hotel room in 2001.
In total, more than 90 women have publicly accused Weinstein of rape, sexual assault or harassment. Weinstein denied all charges and denied having sex without her consent.