Harvey Weinstein found guilty of sexually assaulting Miriam Haley, no verdict on rape
After a three-week trial, Harvey Weinstein has been found guilty on one charge of committing a criminal sexual act in the first degree by a Manhattan jury. The disgraced movie mogul was found guilty of assaulting Miriam Haley, but was acquitted of a second charge of sexually assaulting Kaja Sokola. The jury did not reach a unanimous verdict on a charge involving Jessica Mann, who alleges that Weinstein raped her. The judge has advised them to continue deliberations.Weinstein was convicted earlier in New York and was sentenced to 23 years in prison. This conviction was overturned on appeal. A second conviction in California resulted in a 16-year sentence. On Monday, the jurors left without a verdict as they clashed with each other on convicting Weinstein. The trial centred on three women – a former television production assistant, an aspiring actress, and a model – who accused Weinstein of using his power in Hollywood to sexually abuse them.In total, Weinstein has been accused of sexual misconduct, assault and rape by more than 100 women. While not all reports resulted in criminal charges, a separate sex crimes conviction for Weinstein in California means he is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison.The decision by his accusers to come forward, and his subsequent conviction in New York, galvanised the #MeToo movement against sex abuse by powerful men. Weinstein’s attorneys argued in the court that all physical interaction was consensual and offered evidence that the three women had continued friendly relationships with Weinstein.
