USA Second Weinstein trial in New York about to end
The retrial of former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein for sex crimes in New York is nearing its conclusion.
04.06.2025, 02:00
SDA
After a good six weeks of hearings, the closing arguments of the prosecution and defense began in the Manhattan courtroom, according to US media reports. The case could go to the jury as early as today.
The prosecution accuses the now 73-year-old of sexually abusing three women between 2006 and 2013. The former media mogul denies the allegations and has pleaded not guilty. Weinstein had already been sentenced to 23 years in prison in the case around five years ago for rape and criminal sexual conduct. However, the verdict was surprisingly overturned last spring, whereupon the case was reopened.
The public prosecutor's office called on the jury to find Weinstein guilty again. The ex-movie mogul had used his power and influence to abuse women. The defense, on the other hand, argued that the women had seduced and used Weinstein to achieve their own goals.
Weinstein remains in custody - one way or another
The prosecution relied on the testimony of the women Mimi Haleyi, Jessica Mann and Kaja Sokola in the trial, which has been ongoing for around six weeks. They described how they met Weinstein in the film industry at a young age and had hopes of a career - and how he then used his power as a leading film producer as leverage for sexual assault.
According to Weinstein himself, the proceedings are about clearing his name. A series of allegations of serious sexual assaults against him in 2017 had significantly set the global "MeToo" movement in motion; under this catchphrase, numerous people had reported on social networks about their own experiences as victims of sexual assault.
In another trial in California in 2023, Weinstein was sentenced to 16 years in prison. He will therefore remain in prison even if the New York jury acquits him.
