Weinstein gets 23-year sentence, expresses sympathy for men in #MeToo era

By Brendan Pierson and Karen Freifeld

 

FILE PHOTO: Harvey Weinstein arrives at New York Criminal Court for another day of jury deliberations in his sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., February 24, 2020. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

 

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former movie producer Harvey Weinstein was sentenced on Wednesday to 23 years in prison for sexual assault and rape after giving a rambling court statement sympathizing with men accused of sexual misconduct during the #MeToo era.

 

The sentence was handed down in Manhattan criminal court by Justice James Burke, with Weinstein's lawyer Donna Rotunno afterward denouncing the prison term as "obscene" and "cowardly" and saying the judge and jury "caved" under the pressure of the #MeToo movement against sexual abuse and harassment.

 

A jury on Feb. 24 found Weinstein - once one of Hollywood's most influential men - guilty of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi and raping former aspiring actress Jessica Mann. The length of the sentence means Weinstein may spend the rest of his life incarcerated, considering he is 67 and has health issues. Defence lawyers had recommended the minimum possible five years in prison.

 

Weinstein, Haleyi and Mann all addressed the court during the sentencing hearing. The two women spoke of the trauma they have endured since Weinstein attacked them, with Haleyi saying, "It scarred me deeply, mentally and emotionally, perhaps irreparably, perhaps forever."

 

Mann added, "I am forced to carry that experience until I die."

 

Addressing the court from a wheelchair behind the defence table, Weinstein said, "I'm totally confused."

 

 

Prosecutors portrayed Weinstein as a serial predator who had manipulated women with promises of career advancement in Hollywood, coaxing them to hotel rooms or private apartments and then overpowering and violently attacking them.

 

"The young struggling dreamers were not even people to him. He could take what he wanted knowing there was very little anyone could do about it," Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi told the court.

 

Weinstein said he was worried about the "thousands of men who are losing due process" during the #MeToo movement just as people in the past had their careers destroyed when they were accused of being communists. "I feel remorse for all of the men who are going through this fight," Weinstein said, sounding unrepentant.

 

More than 100 women, including famous actresses, have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct stretching back decades, fuelling the #MeToo movement. Weinstein has denied the allegations and said that any sex was consensual.

 

Haleyi said Weinstein has seemed "completely disconnected from the gravity of the crime he has committed against me."

 

Haleyi, dressed in black, began to cry as she talked about coming forward to testify. During the trial, she testified that Weinstein invited her to his home, backed her into a bedroom and forced oral sex on her in 2006.

 

"I showed up not as a perfect victim, but as a human being," she said.

 

Weinstein had faced a maximum of 29 years in prison.

 

"Although this is a first conviction, it is not a first offence," the judge told the court.

 

Weinstein said he had worked too hard and put too much pressure on himself. "I'm really trying to be a better person," he said.

 

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance told reporters the judge had "sent a message" to potential offenders.

 

Weinstein faces separate sexual assault charges in Los Angeles, where the local district attorney said on Thursday he had started extradition proceedings.

 

APPEAL PROMISED

A spokesman for Weinstein, Juda Engelmayer, said the defence expects to file an appeal in July.

 

Defence lawyer Rotunno said there are murderers who will go free sooner than Weinstein will. "I am overcome with anger at that number," Rotunno said of the 23-year sentence.

 

After sentencing, Weinstein was sent back to New York's Rikers Island jail, where he was moved last Thursday following a 10-day hospital stay at Bellevue Hospital where he underwent a procedure to clear a heart blockage.

 

Mann testified during the trial that Weinstein raped her in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013. Mann called Weinstein a "Jekyll and Hyde" character, charming in public but prone to rage when they were alone.

 

"I want to remind you I told Harvey, 'no,'" she told the court. Her voice was strong but the paper she read from shook in her hands.

 

"He's baffled at finally being held accountable," Mann said of Weinstein.

 

"Justice has been served today, due in no small part to the courage of the women who testified against Harvey Weinstein," U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet wrote on Twitter. "To mark real change, others who commit such appalling crimes must be held accountable, no matter where & what position they occupy."

 

Burke sentenced Weinstein to 20 years for the attack on Haleyi and three years for the rape of Mann. The jury acquitted Weinstein on the most serious charges, a single count of first-degree rape as well as two counts of predatory sexual assault, which carried a potential life sentence.

 

Weinstein won an Academy Award for producing "Shakespeare in Love" and was responsible for other acclaimed films including "Pulp Fiction," "The English Patient" and "Gangs of New York."

 

(Reporting by Brendan Pierson; Additional reporting by Jill Sergeant in Los Angeles and Emma Farge in Geneva.; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Will Dunham)

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-12

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Enough time to get a star anus.....

One ugly creepy dude

He looks like he's been (zimmer) framed

23 minutes ago, candide said:

Enough time to get a star anus.....

 

41 minutes ago, webfact said:

Defence lawyer Rotunno said there are murderers who will go free sooner than Weinstein will. "I am overcome with anger at that number," Rotunno said of the 23-year sentence.

So am I. It should have been life with no chance of parole. But 23 years will have to suffice. 

He raped a 100 women. If you murder 2 or 3 women you get life. The lawyer is full of it.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

denouncing the prison term as "obscene" and "cowardly"

I would suggest his assaults were more "obscene" and "cowardly"

That's will undoubtedly be the death knell of his life and career and he will lo have many years to sit and ponder where did he go wrong... my guess he would have to look further or pondr too deep...

1 hour ago, Bluespunk said:

So am I. It should have been life with no chance of parole. But 23 years will have to suffice. 

It will be his life, unless of course it is reduced on appeal.

2 hours ago, UbonThani said:

One ugly creepy dude

Please post your photo for scrutiny by the mob.

2 hours ago, UbonThani said:

He raped a 100 women.

Really? Did me2 tell you that? For how many rapes was he convicted?

20 years in jail for a conviction of "forced oral sex" in 2006 - without any hard evidence. Is that justice?

I don't pretend that Weinstein is a nice guy. But is 20 years based on what an actress "remembers" from 14 years ago fair? I don't think so.

 

8 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Really? Did me2 tell you that? For how many rapes was he convicted?

One is one too many.

 

1 minute ago, OneMoreFarang said:

20 years in jail for a conviction of "forced oral sex" in 2006 - without any hard evidence. Is that justice?

I don't pretend that Weinstein is a nice guy. But is 20 years based on what an actress "remembers" from 14 years ago fair? I don't think so.

Do you want corroborated evidence as they require in some middle eastern countries?

I feel that the most authentic recall is what matters to the jury. 

Just now, RJRS1301 said:

One is one too many.

 

Correct. Then what is the point of talking about "100 women"?

Most of the women who accuse him had many many years to go to the police and accuse him. And they didn't...

2 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Correct. Then what is the point of talking about "100 women"?

Most of the women who accuse him had many many years to go to the police and accuse him. And they didn't...

Fear and intimidation is a powerful weapon, especially if a peron has been abused by a person who has power over them and their careers and families.

There is also the fear of not being believed by skeptical people.

20 yrs for sexual assault, but just 3yrs for actual rape ???? Dont understand that at all. 

The guy had his trial and conviction already in the media and #meetoo etc. 

1 minute ago, RJRS1301 said:

Do you want corroborated evidence as they require in some middle eastern countries?

I feel that the most authentic recall is what matters to the jury. 

If anybody is sentenced to 20 years of jail, don't you think it's fair to demand that there is proof without any reasonable doubt?

Should we just believe an actress who's job it is to play roles?

She could have gone to the police in 2006 with scratch marks and whatever. She didn't. Maybe at that time there was evidence and then he could have been convicted based on evidence. That would be fair for everybody.

3 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

There is also the fear of not being believed by skeptical people.

Sorry, after 20 years in Thailand I don't believe anymore in any story any (pretty and seductive) girl tells me.

And the reason for that is that many of those girls and women (and obviously also men) lie to get what they want.

Most of us in Thailand know at least a couple of guys who believed what women told them only to get ruined by them.

And somehow I am pretty sure that this happens not only in Thailand.

4 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Sorry, after 20 years in Thailand I don't believe anymore in any story any (pretty and seductive) girl tells me.

And the reason for that is that many of those girls and women (and obviously also men) lie to get what they want.

Most of us in Thailand know at least a couple of guys who believed what women told them only to get ruined by them.

And somehow I am pretty sure that this happens not only in Thailand.

After my divorce in the UK I'm not prepared to believe any accusation made by any woman, unless substantiated by physical evidence. I didn't need to come to Thailand to learn that, but it did take me 50 years to learn in the UK.

'Believe women', not a bloody chance!

I am not excusing the offences etc but I think this historical stuff is all wrong, there should be a statute of limitation stopping these "claims" of X years ago, if a crime is committed report it st the time or within a reasonable time. Not try to "cash in"  on celebrity and jump on the preverbial bandwagon hoping for a pay day as I suggest some do.

Among all the bad news lately this is a small bit of good news.  Weinstein's crimes were not about sex.  The guy was a major Hollywood producer.  There are always any number of young lovelies who are more than willing to do their stint on the casting couch for a such a powerful player without any coercion.  Weinstein liked to force them.  Let him rot.

11 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

I am not excusing the offences etc but I think this historical stuff is all wrong, there should be a statute of limitation stopping these "claims" of X years ago, if a crime is committed report it st the time or within a reasonable time. Not try to "cash in"  on celebrity and jump on the preverbial bandwagon hoping for a pay day as I suggest some do.

There is limitations. Thats why he wasnt charged with other offences.

 

There is no evidence anyone is trying to cash in.

12 minutes ago, Sujo said:

There is limitations. Thats why he wasnt charged with other offences.

 

There is no evidence anyone is trying to cash in.

I find it a little curious and coincidental the law on limitation was changed in New York from 5 yr to 20 yrs just six months ago.

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Really? Did me2 tell you that? For how many rapes was he convicted?

Does it really matter,one rape is to many.

Maybe you disagree?

I do hope when he appeals he doesn't get bail. Rot in jail with your phone wheelchair prop to garner sympathy for the court. Hollywood Slime.

How many days into the trial will it be before Alex Salmond starts turning up at court with a Zimmer frame or a walking stick?

Quote

 23-year sentence

Couldnt happen to a more deserving scumbag

1 hour ago, CharlieH said:

20 yrs for sexual assault, but just 3yrs for actual rape ???? Dont understand that at all. 

The guy had his trial and conviction already in the media and #meetoo etc. 

Charlie, all the hullablooo about his sentence is premature. The Appellate Division will have a look at it, then the hullabaloo can start.