- Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 16 years in jail for the rape of a lady in a Beverly Hills lodge room.
- The disgraced director is already serving a 23-year sentence for an additional intercourse crimes conviction in New York.
- “Please do not sentence me to life in jail. I do not deserve it,” Weinstein pleaded earlier than the courtroom earlier than he was handed three consecutive sentences for forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by a international object, and forcible rape.
Harvey Weinstein was sentenced Thursday to 16 extra years in jail for the rape of a lady in a Beverly Hills lodge room, rising the chance that the disgraced Hollywood mogul will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Weinstein was ordered by a Los Angeles courtroom to serve the most recent sentence – for the assault of a European actress a decade in the past – after he has accomplished his 23-year sentence for an additional intercourse crimes conviction in New York.
Attending courtroom in a wheelchair, the 70-year-old Oscar-winning Shakespeare in Love producer begged the choose for “mercy”.
“Please do not sentence me to life in jail. I do not deserve it. There are such a lot of issues incorrect with this case,” he stated.
However Choose Lisa Lench handed him three consecutive sentences totalling 16 years for forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by a international object, and forcible rape.
The actor, whose id was not revealed, had tearfully known as on the choose to offer Weinstein “the utmost sentence allowable”.
“His egocentric, disgusting actions have enormously impacted my life,” she stated.
“There isn’t any jail sentence lengthy sufficient to undo the harm.”
Weinstein’s legal professionals stated they plan to file an instantaneous attraction of the Los Angeles conviction – which was introduced by a jury in December – and sentence.
The trial had heard specific accounts of conferences between the beforehand influential film producer and several other younger girls who have been searching for a foothold in Hollywood.
Prosecutors stated Weinstein exploited and abused girls for years, and lengthy loved impunity due to his then-powerful place within the business.
The ladies would have risked dropping their future Hollywood job prospects if they’d publicly accused Weinstein on the time, prosecutors stated.
Weinstein was finally convicted within the Los Angeles case of assaulting one lady, however acquitted of sexual battery involving a second.
The jury didn’t attain a verdict on expenses regarding the alleged assaults of two different girls, one in every of whom was recognized by her legal professionals as Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the now-wife of California Governor Gavin Newsom.
A protection movement requesting a brand new trial or a diminished verdict was denied on Thursday instantly earlier than the sentencing went forward.
Weinstein’s legal professionals claimed they have been precluded from admitting essential proof in regards to the rape sufferer – together with Fb messages with an alleged lover which the choose deemed irrelevant – and that their cross-examination was restricted.
However Lench stated the proof had been “correctly excluded”.
Weinstein’s behaviour had been the subject of rumours in leisure circles for years, however his energy participant standing in Hollywood ensured few have been keen to publicly name him out.
Bombshell allegations broke towards him in 2017, launching the #MeToo motion and paving the way in which for lots of of ladies to battle again towards sexual violence within the office.
Dozens of ladies have now accused Weinstein of predatory behaviour.
In New York final June, Weinstein misplaced his first attraction towards his prison verdict and sentence within the state’s intermediate appellate courtroom.
However he has additionally additional appealed that case to the upper New York Court docket of Appeals.
After his conviction in New York, a civil trial awarded $17 million to dozens of different girls who had accused the previous film magnate of abuse.
Earlier this month, the European actor who Weinstein was convicted of raping in Los Angeles additionally sued him for damages.
The civil case alleges sexual battery, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional misery and negligence.
“The conduct of Defendant Weinstein was despicable, and finished with malice, oppression and fraud, thus justifying an award of punitive damages towards him,” her lawsuit says.
