LOS ANGELES: Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulted young women hoping to make it in Hollywood, a Los Angeles prosecutor argued, while the former producer's attorney said his accusers willingly took part in a "casting couch" culture to boost their careers.
Weinstein, the man who became the face of #MeToo allegations five years ago, is currently serving a 23-year prison sentence for sex crimes in New York. He is now on trial in Los Angeles on 11 charges of rape and sexual assault and has pleaded not guilty.
In opening statements, Deputy District Attorney Paul Thompson offered graphic details and quotes from women who said Weinstein invited them to hotel rooms for purported business meetings between 1991 and 2015.
"He was trying to keep his penis in my mouth," Thompson quoted one as saying.
He quoted another as saying Weinstein undressed her and fondled her breast while masturbating.
Weinstein, seated in the courtroom in a dark suit and tie, occasionally shook his head while Thompson spoke.
Alleged incidents involving four of the women are the basis of the charges against Weinstein. The other four women, who had encounters outside of Los Angeles, will be presented by prosecutors to try to establish a pattern of behavior.
Weinstein lawyer Mark Werksman told jurors that each allegation was a "weak and unsubstantiated trickle that will evaporate upon your close scrutiny."
"You’ll learn that in Hollywood, sex was a commodity,"Werksman said. "It was the casting couch. Everyone did it ... because each wanted something from another," Werksman said.
"Now look at him," Werksman added. "He’s not Brad Pitt or George Clooney. Do you think those beautiful women had sex with him because he’s hot? No. They did it because he was powerful.”
Werksman also noted that each of the women came forward only after reports about Weinstein's behavior helped fuel the #MeToo movement of women speaking out about sexual harassment and abuse in Hollywood and beyond.
Thompson said none of the accusers spoke publicly at the time because they worried Weinstein "could crush their careers." He showed the jury movie posters of "Pulp Fiction," "Shakespeare in Love" and other Weinstein productions.
"At this time, this was the most powerful person in the industry," Thompson quoted one of the women as saying.
Another said: "He was king."
Weinstein, 70, was convicted of sexual misconduct in New York in February 2020. He was extradited from New York to a Los Angeles prison in July 2021.
In New York, Weinstein is appealing his conviction and 23-year prison sentence. He could face up to 140 years in prison if convicted on all of the charges in Los Angeles.
Reuters
Wed Oct 26 2022
Former film producer Harvey Weinstein appears in court at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles, California, USA. - REUTERS/Filepic
Bekas gabenor New York, anak tiri diserang empat individu
Kedua-dua mangsa mengalami kecederaan di bahagian muka serta badan dan dikejarkan ke hospital untuk menerima rawatan.
Tentera AS lancar serangan di bandar Yaman
AS menyerang 15 sasaran Houthi di kawasan yang dikawal oleh kumpulan yang disokong Iran itu.
Korea Selatan pindahkan 97 rakyatnya dari Lubnan
Kementerian Luar Korea Selatan maklumkan, kesemua mereka tiba di Korea Selatan pada petang Sabtu.
Pelarian tiba di Syria selepas serangan Israel ke atas Lubnan - UNHCR
Lebih 200,000 warga Syria dan Lubnan telah tiba di Syria dari Lubnan sejak serangan Israel bermula 23 September lalu.
[LAPOR LANGSUNG] Lebih 2,000 terkorban di Lubnan akibat serangan Israel
Jumlah mangsa yang maut itu termasuk 261 wanita dan 127 kanak-kanak.
Lebih 2,000 terkorban di Lubnan akibat serangan Israel
Laporan Al Jazeera menyebut, jumlah mangsa yang maut itu termasuk 261 wanita dan 127 kanak-kanak.
AWANI Pagi: Pendayaupayaan Pembangunan Sosio Ekonomi Bagi Memacu Wilayah Persekutuan
Ikuti temu bual bersama Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (Wilayah Persekutuan), Dr Zaliha Mustafa di #AWANIPagi jam 7.30 pagi di saluran 501 Astro AWANI.
Pentagon, Jabatan Negara AS beri amaran jenayah perang Israel
Pegawai-pegawai tersebut telah memberi amaran peningkatan jumlah kematian di Gaza mungkin melanggar undang-undang antarabangsa.
200,000 pelarian tiba di Syria selepas serangan Israel ke atas Lubnan - UNHCR
Lebih 200,000 warga Syria dan Lubnan telah tiba di Syria dari Lubnan sejak serangan Israel bermula pada 23 Sept.
Belanjawan 2025: Kesalinghubungan internet di sekolah, kampus jadi keutamaan - Fahmi
Kementerian Komunikasi akan memberikan keutamaan dengan meneruskan usaha untuk meningkatkan dan memantapkan lagi prasarana kesalinghubungan melibatkan isu Internet, dalam Belanjawan 2025 yang akan dibentangkan pada 18 Okt ini.
Rogol: Harvey Weinstein dijatuhi hukuman tambahan 16 tahun penjara
Bekas penerbit berusia 70 tahun itu sudah menjalani hukuman penjara 23 tahun untuk sabitan berasingan di New York.
Harvey Weinstein dipenjara 23 tahun atas tuduhan rogol, serangan seksual
Bekas penerbit filem Hollywood, Harvey Weinstein, dijatuhi hukuman penjara 23 tahun selepas didapati bersalah terhadap pertuduhan merogol dan melakukan serangan seksual.
Harvey Weinstein mengaku tidak bersalah atas dua pertuduhan baharu
Menurut pihak pendakwaan, pertuduhan baharu itu penting bagi membolehkan pelakon siri Sopranos, Annabella Sciorra, memberi keterangannya di mahkamah.
Film producer Harvey Weinstein indicted on rape charges - Prosecutor
Movie producer Harvey Weinstein has been indicted on charges of rape and a criminal sexual act.
Pertahan Harvey Weinstein, Matt Damon mungkin 'hilang' dalam Ocean's 8
Desakan berpunca tindakan pelakon itu cuba melindungi salah laku seksual mogul perfileman Hollywood, Harvey Weinstein.
Dituduh bantu Weinstein, muka Streep 'ditampal' di serata LA
Dituduh bersekongkol dengan Harvey Weinstein untuk mendapatkan wanita muda untuk diganggu, poster dengan muka Meryl Streep ditampal di serata Los Angeles.
Russell Simmons didakwa rogol tiga wanita
Terbaru, akhbar The New York Times dedahkan tiga wanita mendakwa pernah dirogol mogul muzik, Russell Simmons.
Malang bertimpa: Weinstein disaman lagi - TMZ
The Weinstein Company (TWC) sekali lagi disaman, tetapi kali ini bukan untuk gangguan seksual.