Harvey Weinstein, once regarded as one of Hollywood’s most powerful producers, was sentenced to nearly two decades in prison on Thursday. He was convicted on charges of rape and sexual abuse. Weinstein had already been sentenced in New York for his convictions.
AP:
LOS ANGELES (AP), Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment by a Los Angeles judge after he was convicted by a jury of the 2013 rape of an Italian actor and model.
The sentence comes on top of the more than 20 years the 70-year-old Weinstein has left to serve for a similar 2020 conviction in New York, furthering the fall of the onetime movie magnate who became a #MeToo magnet.
Weinstein, however, maintained his innocence and appealed to the judge before she sentenced him.
At at least one juror from Weinstein’s trial is here and was speaking with one of Weinstein’s attorneys a few moments ago. Weinstein’s motion for new trial says two jurors say they wouldn’t have convicted on Jane Doe 1 if they knew of her intimate relationship w/ another witness.
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) February 23, 2023
Weinstein referenced the “cottage industry” of lawyers who want to put their clients on the stand, then get a lawsuit settlement.
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) February 23, 2023
The words of Jane Doe 1, the victim-survivor of Weinstein’s crimes, were even more persuasive, according to AP.
“Before that night I was a very happy and confident woman. I valued myself and the relationship I had with God,” the woman, who was identified in court only as Jane Doe 1, said. “I was excited about my future. Everything changed after the defendant brutally assaulted me. There is no prison sentence long enough to undo the damage.”
She also made this scathing indictment against Weinstein.
Jane Doe 1 to judge at Harvey Weinstein sentencing. “During my testimony I saw his eyes — how he stared at me smirking and smiling — and I understood at that moment he was the exact same man that raped me all those years ago.
The man who ripped out my soul and has no regrets.”— Richard Winton (@LAcrimes) February 23, 2023
This is a breaking story so we will keep you updated as more information becomes available..
