Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in prison after being found guilty of criminal sexual assault in the first degree and rape in the third degree. He was sentenced on Wednesday, 11 March, by Judge James Burke at the New York supreme court.
Weinstein was wheeled into the courtroom in a wheelchair, and Assistant D.A. Joan Illuzzi urged the judge to hand out the 'maximum sentence.
Miriam Haley and Jessica Mann, the two victims in the case delivered victim impact' statements before a sentence was given. The women were sat at the front of courtroom, in the front row alongisde witnesses Tarale Wulff, Dawn Dunning, Lauren Young, and Annabella Sciorra, all of whom testified against the producer.
“It scarred me deeply, mentally and emotionally,” Haley, who says she was sexually assaulted in 2006, told the judge . “What he did not only stripped me of my dignity as a human being and a woman, but it crushed my confidence.”
Mann, who says she was raped by Weinstein during their relationship, criticised his lawyers' strategy.
“As his lawyers twist the truth, and even lie, I swore to come here and tell the whole truth, only to be asked yes or no questions,” she said. “There is still so much left unsaid about his abusive relationships.”
The sentence comes after a verdict was reached by a 12-person jury who spent five days deliberating. The producer was facing five charges in the trial including rape, criminal sexual assault and predatory sexual assault.
The jury had appeared to be deadlocked on the two charges of predatory sexual assault, even asking the judge if they could deliver a majority verdict (as oppose to unanimous, where all the members of the jury have to agree.)
Weinstein's legal team had asked for leniency in a letter to the court. They had asked for Judge Burke to sentence him to the minimum of five years in prison, citing his failing health, fall from grace and the producer's 'remarkable accomplishments'.
What was Harvey Weinstein accused of?
Despite more than 90 women coming forward to accuse Weinstein of various crimes including rape, sexual assault and harassment, he was only standing trial for five charges against two women - Mimi Haley and Jessica Mann - for the rape of one female acquaintance and forced oral sex on another. He pleaded not guilty and was released on $1 million bail.
A third accuser, Annabella Sciorra - known for her role in The Sopranos - also gave testimony, as well as three other women alleging Weinstein assaulted them. However, those crimes were too old to prosecute on under state law and thus the jury could not legally convict on their accusations.
Click here for more information on what happened during the trail.
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