Harvey Weinstein faces four rape charges and seven more sexual assault charges in Los Angeles.
The opening statements on the case are expected to begin today.
The charges are the latest in a long series of charges against the disgraced movie mogul – formerly considered a king of Hollywood and one of the most awarded producers in history.
The 70-year-old is already serving 23 years in prison in California for rape and sexual assault after being sentenced in New York in 2020.
Here are all the details on his latest court case.
What was Weinstein accused of?
Weinstein is charged with 11 counts of rape and sexual assault against five women in Los Angeles and Beverley Hills between 2004 and 2013.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
If convicted of all 11 counts, Weinstein could be sentenced to up to 140 years in prison.
Who are Weinstein’s accusers?
Documentary director and actress Jennifer Siebel Newsom is one of five women who accuse Weinstein.
She appeared in small roles in dozens of films and television shows between 2002 and 2011 and has recently directed genre-focused documentaries, including The Great American Lie and Fair Play. She is married to California Governor Gavin Newsom.
He initially wrote about his experience with Weinstein in a 2017 essay in the Huffington Post, but revealed few details at the time.
Jennifer Siebel Newsom
Ms. Newsom’s attorney Elizabeth Fegan said, “Like many other women, my client was sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein during an alleged business meeting that turned out to be a trap.
“She plans to testify at her trial to seek some justice for the survivors and as part of her life’s work to improve the lives of women.”
The other four women will remain anonymous and will prove like Jane Doe.
Most of the alleged incidents, such as that of Mrs. Newsom, occurred under the guise of business meetings at luxury hotels in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, which Weinstein used as a California headquarters during awards season and throughout the year. ‘year.
Four of the alleged attacks are said to have occurred during the 2013 Oscars week, when Weinstein’s hit films Silver Linings Playbook and Django Unchained took home numerous statuettes.
Weinstein was pictured with a walker during his previous trial
Who are the witnesses?
The initial witness list contained over 270 names, although the final list is expected to contain less than half that number. The list has not been made public.
A witness, Barbara Schneeweiss, a producer of Project Runway and other television programs, was present in court and a judge told her she was on duty to enter at any time.
Jurors were also provided with a long list of names of witnesses in the upcoming trial, including those of the accusers, to determine if they have any connection with them.
Read more:
Harvey Weinstein: The Fall of the King of Hollywood
The prosecution may also present parts of Weinstein’s New York conviction for rape and sexual assault as evidence.
A potential witness against Weinstein is Hollywood actor and director Mel Gibson after a judge ruled he can testify.
Prosecutors say Gibson, who won an Oscar for directing Braveheart, was friends with one of the accusers.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lisa Lench ruled that Gibson could testify about what his friend told him about Weinstein, though the judge said he might change his mind depending on the friend’s testimony.
Will there be a jury?
It is a jury trial and 12 jurors were selected – nine men and three women.
They appear to be largely between the ages of 40 and 70. Some appear to be older than that, and a man appears to be between 20 and 20 years old.
Ten alternate jurors will also assist for the entire duration of the trial, ready to intervene and replace any of the 12 juries, should anyone be unable to serve.
They were chosen from a pool of 225 potential jurors, who filled out a long questionnaire.
It is understood that it contained questions, including how much media coverage of Weinstein they had seen and whether opinions had been derived from it.
There was also a question about a California law that states that testimony from a sexual assault victim alone can be sufficient evidence to convict if a juror believes it.
Weinstein at his 2020 trial in New York
What happened during the New York trial in 2020?
Weinstein is currently serving a 23-year prison sentence in California, having been extradited there following his sentence in March 2020 for assaulting production assistant Mimi Haleyi at her apartment in 2006 and for rape of Jessica’s third degree. Mann in 2013.
Currently it is appealing to these beliefs.
During a historical process, more than 100 womenincluding famous actresses like Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek and Uma Thurman, Weinstein has been accused of sexual misconduct dating back decades, fueling the #MeToo movement against sexual abuse and harassment.
He was acquitted of first degree rape and two counts of predatory sexual assault dating back to the 1990s.
Prior to his extradition to California, he was serving his sentence at the Wende Correctional Facility in Buffalo, New York, a maximum security prison.
Weinstein in his heyday, pictured on a red carpet in 2015
How did Weinstein fall out of favor?
Harvey Weinstein was once the king of Hollywood, a man with the power to make and break careers in movies.
But in October 2017, the Oscar-winning producer was accused of sexual misconduct by a number of women in reports from the New York Times and The New Yorker. He was also accused of reaching settlements to keep the stories quiet.
Over the next few months, dozens more women came forward to report decades of Weinstein’s rape, sexual assault and harassment.
Police investigations into the allegations stretched from Los Angeles to New York and London.
Weinstein admitted that his behavior had “caused a lot of pain,” but consistently denied all sexual allegations made against him.
In September 2020, Weinstein was stripped of his CBE following his conviction.
Numerous other awards bestowed on Weinstein during his career, including the prestigious French Legion of Honor, have been lifted since charges against him first surfaced.
The award-winning Oscar winner, responsible for blockbusters including Pulp Fiction, The English Patient, Good Will Hunting, Gangs Of New York and Shakespeare In Love, was expelled from the academy in 2017.
They had previously nominated his work for 341 awards, earning 81 statuettes over the past 26 years.
