Is Harvey Weinstein Convicted of Assault Amid Jury Tensions?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Harvey Weinstein convicted of one count of a criminal sexual act.
- He was acquitted of another charge.
- Juror tensions were reported during the deliberation process.
- The trial has significant implications for sexual assault cases.
- Weinstein's defense argued for a mistrial due to juror conflicts.
Los Angeles, June 12 (NationPress) The infamous Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein is now facing a conviction for one count of perpetrating a criminal sexual act.
Despite this, he has been exonerated on another count during his sex crimes retrial in New York City, as reported by Variety.
On Wednesday, the jury, predominantly composed of women, determined that the former producer was guilty of sexually assaulting Miriam Haley, while he was found not guilty of a separate charge involving Kaja Sokola.
According to Variety, the jury could not achieve a unanimous decision regarding a third charge linked to Jessica Mann and was instructed to continue their deliberations on Thursday morning.
This partial verdict follows a weeks-long trial that commenced in April, during which three women recounted the alleged sexual assaults attributed to the once-powerful figure in Hollywood. Weinstein faced two counts of first-degree criminal sexual acts and one count of third-degree rape.
Prior to the mixed verdict, Weinstein himself addressed the court, requesting the judge to declare a mistrial, as several jurors reported ongoing conflicts in the deliberation room. “This is my life that’s on the line,” Weinstein told Judge Curtis Farber, adding, “I am not receiving a fair trial.”
He went on to inform the judge, “You are endangering me, Your Honor.” Earlier on Wednesday, the jury foreperson in Weinstein’s retrial notified the judge that tensions remained elevated during deliberations and sought a private meeting with the judge and attorneys to address the matter.
In court, Farber relayed the foreperson’s account, noting that there was discord among the jurors and that the foreperson was “not going to change his position, whatever that position may be.”
“He did indicate that at least one other juror made comments suggesting, ‘I’ll meet you outside one day,’ accompanied by yelling and screaming,” the judge stated. “A crime was committed against this juror,” argued Weinstein’s attorney Arthur Aidala, describing the deliberation room atmosphere as “menacing and harassing.”