Harvey Weinstein’s rape retrial opens with new allegations of sexual assault from former mannequin

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Harvey Weinstein's retrial opened in New York Metropolis on Wednesday, giving a brand new jury a recent take a look at rape and sexual assault allegations — plus a newly added declare from a former mannequin.

For the primary time, prosecutors publicly recognized Kaja Sokola and detailed her account of what unfolded between her and the film producer within the early 2000s. Weinstein is criminally charged with forcing oral intercourse on her in 2006, however she additionally accused him in a civil lawsuit of groping her in opposition to her will 4 years earlier, when she was 16.

Like the 2 different accusers within the case, Sokola alleges a posh sequence of encounters and reactions — being sexually assaulted, but staying in contact with Weinstein, being cautious of him, however wanting to stay on good phrases with the Hollywood energy dealer who dangled the opportunity of an performing profession.

"Why did the defendant maintain this degree of energy and management within the eyes of those three ladies? It is as a result of Harvey Weinstein outlined the sector," prosecutor Shannon Lucey informed jurors in a gap assertion. "He knew how tempting guarantees of success have been. He produced, he choreographed, he due to this fact directed, their final silence for years."

Weinstein used "dream alternatives as weapons" to prey on the three accusers within the case, Lucey mentioned.

"The defendant needed their our bodies, and the extra they resisted, the extra forceful he obtained."

<img loading="lazy" alt="A man sits at a desk, his arms folded over top of a book. He is wearing a suit. A woman sits beside him on her laptop, and two people are visible standing behind the man who is seated. " srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/1.7516227.1745417020!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/sexual-misconduct-harvey-weinstein.jpg?im=Resize%3D300 300w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7516227.1745417020!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/sexual-misconduct-harvey-weinstein.jpg?im=Resize%3D460 460w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7516227.1745417020!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/sexual-misconduct-harvey-weinstein.jpg?im=Resize%3D620 620w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7516227.1745417020!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/sexual-misconduct-harvey-weinstein.jpg?im=Resize%3D780 780w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7516227.1745417020!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/sexual-misconduct-harvey-weinstein.jpg?im=Resize%3D1180 1180w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 300px,(max-width: 460px) 460px,(max-width: 620px) 620px,(max-width: 780px) 780px,(max-width: 1180px) 1180px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/1.7516227.1745417020!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/sexual-misconduct-harvey-weinstein.jpg?im=" style="aspect-ratio:1.623108665749656" data-cy="image-img"/> Weinstein seems in courtroom in Manhattan as jury choice continues in his retrial on Tuesday. (David Dee Delgado/The Related Press) 'Casting sofa isn't against the law scene,' defence says The retrial is going on as a result of New York's prime courtroom final yr threw out Weinstein's 2020 conviction, which was a watershed second for the #MeToo motion in opposition to sexual misconduct. The excessive courtroom discovered that the earlier trial choose allowed prejudicial testimony about allegations that have been separate from the costs.

Weinstein has once more pleaded not responsible, and defence lawyer Arthur Aidala countered the prosecution by portraying the accusers as keen companions in a showbiz quid professional quo.

"The casting sofa isn't against the law scene," Aidala informed the majority-female jury. He in contrast the prosecution's allegations to the preview of a film that "falls flat on its face."

The 73-year-old Weinstein, seated within the wheelchair he now makes use of due to well being issues, did not take a look at Lucey or the jury throughout her presentation earlier than Manhattan District Lawyer Alvin Bragg and others in a packed courtroom viewers. However Weinstein watched intently as Aidala outlined his defence.

Weinstein's retrial is enjoying out at a unique cultural second than the primary. The #MeToo motion, which exploded in 2017 with allegations in opposition to Weinstein, has additionally advanced.

The jury counts seven ladies and 5 males — in contrast to the seven-man, five-woman panel that convicted him in 2020 — and there is a totally different choose.

<img loading="lazy" alt="A line of women, photographed from slightly above and behind them, faces a line of cameras and media. They are standing on a sidewalk on a street. " srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/1.7516495.1745429704!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/sexual-misconduct-weinstein.jpg?im=Resize%3D300 300w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7516495.1745429704!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/sexual-misconduct-weinstein.jpg?im=Resize%3D460 460w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7516495.1745429704!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/sexual-misconduct-weinstein.jpg?im=Resize%3D620 620w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7516495.1745429704!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/sexual-misconduct-weinstein.jpg?im=Resize%3D780 780w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7516495.1745429704!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/sexual-misconduct-weinstein.jpg?im=Resize%3D1180 1180w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 300px,(max-width: 460px) 460px,(max-width: 620px) 620px,(max-width: 780px) 780px,(max-width: 1180px) 1180px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/1.7516495.1745429704!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/sexual-misconduct-weinstein.jpg?im=" style="aspect-ratio:1.7126269956458635" data-cy="image-img"/> Within the wake of Weinstein's authentic conviction in 2020, a bunch of girls who had spoken out concerning the Hollywood producer's sexual misconduct and who referred to themselves because the "Silence Breakers," confronted the media throughout a information convention at Los Angeles Metropolis Corridor, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. (The Related Press) Firstly of Weinstein's first trial, chants of "rapist" might be heard from protesters outdoors. This time, there was none of that.

Nonetheless, Sokola's lawyer, Lindsay Goldbrum, has referred to as Weinstein's retrial a "sign to different survivors that the system is catching up — and that it is value talking out even when the chances appear insurmountable."

Weinstein faces previous and new prison intercourse act expenses Along with dealing with a brand new prison intercourse act cost, Weinstein is being retried on a prison intercourse act cost for allegedly forcibly performing oral intercourse on Miriam Haley, a film and TV manufacturing assistant on the time, in 2006, and a third-degree rape cost for allegedly assaulting Jessica Mann, a then-aspiring actor, in a Manhattan resort room in 2013.

Prosecutors mentioned Sokola got here ahead days earlier than his first trial however wasn't a part of that case. They mentioned they revisited her allegations when his conviction was thrown out.

WATCH | Breaking down why Weinstein's N.Y. conviction was overturned (2024): Why Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction was overturned | About That

New York's highest courtroom has overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 conviction for sexual assault and rape, a landmark ruling of the #MeToo motion. Andrew Chang explains how the prosecution knew it was taking of venture, and the place that gamble went flawed. The Related Press doesn't typically establish folks alleging sexual assault except they consent to be named, as Haley, Mann and Sokola have achieved.

Greater than 100 ladies, together with well-known actresses, have accused Weinstein of misconduct.

Whereas these jurors will not hear concerning the allegations unrelated to the prison expenses that obtained the primary conviction thrown out, they're anticipated to listen to from Sokola.

Courtroom hears allegations made by Sokola The Polish-born Sokola met Weinstein in 2002 after travelling alone to New York for a modelling journey at age 16, in line with prosecutors.

She alleges he invited her to lunch to debate potential performing jobs however detoured to his house and demanded she take off her shirt if she needed to make it within the film enterprise. Then, Sokola alleges, Weinstein fondled her whereas making her contact his genitals.

<img loading="lazy" alt="An older man leans on a walker as he walks outside. Several people walk near or beside him and the outer walls of a building are visible past him. " srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/1.7516228.1745415551!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/sexual-misconduct-harvey-weinstein.jpg?im=Resize%3D300 300w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7516228.1745415551!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/sexual-misconduct-harvey-weinstein.jpg?im=Resize%3D460 460w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7516228.1745415551!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/sexual-misconduct-harvey-weinstein.jpg?im=Resize%3D620 620w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7516228.1745415551!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/sexual-misconduct-harvey-weinstein.jpg?im=Resize%3D780 780w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7516228.1745415551!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/sexual-misconduct-harvey-weinstein.jpg?im=Resize%3D1180 1180w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 300px,(max-width: 460px) 460px,(max-width: 620px) 620px,(max-width: 780px) 780px,(max-width: 1180px) 1180px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/1.7516228.1745415551!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/sexual-misconduct-harvey-weinstein.jpg?im=" style="aspect-ratio:1.6142270861833106" data-cy="image-img"/> Weinstein arrives at a Manhattan courthouse as jury deliberations proceed in his rape trial in New York on Feb. 24, 2020. Weinstein's 2020 trial was a landmark second for the #MeToo motion, which exploded in 2017 with allegations in opposition to Weinstein. (John Minchillo/The Related Press) Over the following few years, Sokola stayed involved with Weinstein, even after telling him off for allegedly groping her in a automotive round 2004, Lucey informed jurors. She mentioned Weinstein organized for Sokola to be an additional and to speak to the celebrities of the 2007 rom-com The Nanny Diaries, and he or she invited him to lunch along with her visiting sister, hoping to impress her.

After the lunch, Lucey mentioned he lured Sokola to his Manhattan resort room by saying he had scripts for her to see, ordered her to undress, held her down on a mattress and carried out oral intercourse on her whereas she tearfully implored him not to take action.

Within the weeks after, Sokola was photographed with Weinstein and a 3rd individual at an occasion, and his firm wrote her a advice letter for performing college, the prosecutor mentioned. Lucey informed jurors that energy imbalances typically "trigger victims to behave in ways in which laypersons presumably may not anticipate."

After different allegations emerged in opposition to Weinstein in 2017, Sokola sued. Prosecutors mentioned she acquired $3.5 million US in compensation.

Aidala mentioned Sokola and the opposite accusers have been "making an attempt to reap the benefits of Mr. Weinstein when he was on the prime," then benefited from making allegations "when he was headed towards the underside."

Outdoors courtroom, Sokola's lawyer decried Weinstein's defence as filled with "sufferer blaming" and "rape myths."

Weinstein's acquittals on the 2 most critical expenses at his 2020 trial — predatory sexual assault and first-degree rape — nonetheless stand, nonetheless he was additionally convicted of intercourse crimes in California and was sentenced to a 16-year jail time period. He's within the technique of interesting that conviction.

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