An American judge recently pushed the ruling in former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein’s case to February 23rd, prompting an outcry of frustrated reactions on social media.
After being found guilty in December of committing rape and two other sexual offenses against a model in 2013, Harvey Weinstein was convicted at the end of his trial that took place in Los Angeles to face an imprisonment sentence up to 18 years.
It is expected that Weinstein’s defense team – which is determined to appeal the conviction – will present its arguments for launching a new trial in the next session, scheduled for February 23.
If the appeal is denied, the verdict will be pronounced on the same day, said Judge Lisa Lynch.
Disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein will wait several more weeks to hear of his sentencing in a case that found him guilty of three counts of sexual assault and related crimes https://t.co/DIWERPpHBe
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) January 9, 2023
Harvey Weinstein, who created many acclaimed award-winning films like Pulp Fiction, is currently serving a 23 year prison sentence in New York charged with sexual offenses. During his last trial, four women testified that they were forced to have intimate encounters with him at various hotels in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles between 2004 and 2013.
Exhausting sessions
After a lengthy trial period that spanned several weeks, with many victims tearfully testifying against him in court, Weinstein was branded by prosecutors as an influential Hollywood “ghoul”, having been nominated for 330 Oscars and won 81 of them. The gravity of the situation made it difficult for these women to speak up about their experiences without worrying about potential repercussions on their professional careers.
At the close of trial, the jury unanimously found Weinstein guilty on all three counts brought against him by the initial accuser. In contrast, they acquitted him of charges raised by a subsequent plaintiff while declining to pass judgement upon those put forward by two remaining plaintiffs.
In 2017, after extensive investigative reports revealed the producer’s alleged wrongdoings, the MeToo movement arose to amplify the voices of sexual assault survivors globally. The reverberations of this event have been felt throughout all corners of society.
Movie star Angelina Jolie was among those who publicly accused producer Weinstein of harassment and assault, according to the German News Agency.
Accusations and assaults
Lupita Nyong’o: Speaking Out About Harvey Weinstein https://t.co/0dKP3lELC8
— Nikhil Damodaran (നിഖിൽ) (@nikhildamodaran) January 10, 2023
More than ninety female icons such as Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Salma Hayek have shared stories of being harassed or assaulted by Harvey Weinstein. Unfortunately, a significant amount of these accounts predate 1977 which means many are beyond the statute of limitations.
It is important to note that Weinstein has been accused of sexual assault in the United Kingdom, with incidents dating back as far as 1996.
On social media, activists spread the news of the trial’s postponement and shared photos of Harvey Weinstein. Additionally, some began to recount tales from his victims in an effort to keep their stories alive.
