A Manhattan judge has declared a mistrial in Harvey Weinstein’s sex crimes retrial. The decision came one day after the jury returned a partial verdict on two of three charges.
The jury had been deliberating since last week but only decided on third-degree rape and first-degree criminal sexual act on Wednesday, June 11. The mistrial will not affect the verdicts that the jury had reached.
The remaining count, involving former actress Jessica Mann, became the focus of mounting tension among jurors.
Threat inside the jury room
According to multiple outlets, a juror told the judge on Wednesday that they could not return to the deliberation room due to yelling and threats from another panelist. The situation escalated to the point where one juror allegedly told the foreman, “You know me; you going to see me outside,” according to NBC News.
This confrontation put an end to the retrial.
On Thursday, June 12, Judge Curtis Farber declared a mistrial after the jury foreman said he was no longer willing to continue deliberating. The assistant district attorney immediately requested a new trial on the remaining charge.
Jessica Mann, who testified during the retrial, was at the center of the unresolved count of sexual assault. NBC reports that one juror told reporters outside the courthouse that her case was the most difficult to agree on.
“I will never give up on myself and making sure my voice — and the truth — is heard. I have told the District Attorney I am ready, willing and able to endure this as many times as it takes for justice and accountability to be served. Today is not the end of my fight,” Mann stated in a statement to NBC.
Next steps for the case
Weinstein’s defense attorney argued that a third trial is unnecessary, telling NBC News that his client has already endured enough legal proceedings.
The judge has scheduled a status hearing for July 2 to determine if the retrial will proceed, according to The New York Times.
Defense requested mistrial Wednesday
Fox News reported that Weinstein’s defense team requested a mistrial on Wednesday. Weinstein addressed Judge Curtis Farber, saying, “This is my life that’s on the line, this is not fair.” Farber denied the request.
Authorities have held Weinstein at Manhattan’s Bellevue Hospital, where a court approved his stay. He recently underwent emergency heart surgery last September and had a chronic myeloid leukemia diagnosis in October.
Despite his medical problems, Weinstein appeared in court in a wheelchair.
Weinstein expressed regrets
In a phone on June 5, with Fox 5 New York’s Rosanna Scotto, Weinstein addressed the proceedings.
“I have regrets that I — from my family — through this, that I put my wife through this, that I acted immorally,” Weinstein said. “I put so many friends through this and hurt people that were close to me by actions that were stupid. But never illegal, never criminal, never anything.”
Weinstein’s retrial came after his 2020 conviction for rape and predatory assault was overturned. A trial judge ruled that women were wrongly allowed to testify about allegations not included in his criminal charges.
NBC reported Weinstein will likely be returned to California to serve a 16-year sentence for his 2022 rape conviction.
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Author: Harry Fogle
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