Mates of considered one of Harvey Weinstein’s accusers testified Thursday that the girl instructed them way back that Weinstein sexually assaulted her.
Including a brand new perspective to the ex-movie mogul’s retrial, one witness stated she’d as soon as recommended that accuser Miriam Haley date the film mogul, however Haley balked.
“She had zero interest in dating him or sleeping with him,” witness Christine Pressman stated, describing Haley as “distraught” when she later disclosed the alleged sexual assault.
Among the rising particulars present how this trial is a reprise — however not a precise repeat — of the 2020 trial by which Weinstein was initially convicted of rape and sexual assault. That conviction has since been overturned.
Pressman did not testify on the unique trial. Prosecutors introduced her on this time to assist Haley’s allegations, however Weinstein’s legal professionals quizzed her about whether or not Haley the truth is had a prepared sexual relationship with the Oscar-winning studio boss.
“Never,” Pressman insisted.
Haley is a former manufacturing assistant on the Weinstein-produced tv present “Project Runway.”
Weinstein, 73, maintains that he has by no means sexually assaulted or raped anybody. His legal professionals argue that his accusers agreed to sexual encounters with the Oscar-winning producer in hopes of getting forward within the leisure enterprise.
Weinstein was remodeled in 2017 from a Hollywood tycoon right into a #MeToo motion villain after a sequence of sexual misconduct allegations in opposition to him grew to become public.
He was convicted in 2020 of raping Jessica Mann, who was as soon as an aspiring actor, and forcing oral intercourse on Haley. New York’s highest courtroom threw out the conviction final 12 months, discovering that the unique trial decide had allowed prejudicial testimony.
The retrial contains an extra allegation of forcible oral intercourse on a unique girl, former mannequin Kaja Sokola. Weinstein has pleaded not responsible to all the fees.
Not one of the accusers has testified but, however two of Haley’s pals took the stand Thursday to attest that she instructed them in regards to the alleged July 2006 sexual assault round that point.
Elizabeth Entin, Haley’s former roommate, stated a shaken Haley instructed her that month that Weinstein had forcibly carried out oral intercourse on her. Echoing her testimony on the first trial, Entin stated she recommended Haley name a lawyer, however her pal appeared disinclined.
Pressman, nonetheless, stated she suggested in opposition to turning to police when the Finnish-born Haley made an analogous disclosure to her in August or September of 2006.
“I said, ‘Harvey Weinstein is the king of New York. He’s extremely powerful. You are not. You’re here on a tourist visa. Just let it go,’” the previous mannequin, musician and actor recalled. She teared up as she added that she now is aware of her steerage “was wrong.”
Below questioning from Weinstein lawyer Jennifer Bonjean, Pressman acknowledged that sooner or later earlier than the alleged assault, she recommended Haley date Weinstein. Pressman later defined that she’d been annoyed by her pal’s style in males — guys who had been lanky, cerebral “and broke,” as Pressman put it.
Haley rejected the notion of relationship Weinstein, she stated. However Bonjean went on to ask whether or not Pressman knew that Haley “had consensual sex with Mr. Weinstein.” Pressman stated her pal did no such factor.
Haley testified on the unique trial that she stated “no, no, no” through the alleged assault. A couple of weeks later, she didn’t protest when Weinstein pulled her towards a mattress and had intercourse together with her, she stated, explaining that she merely “went numb.”
After jurors left for the day, Weinstein’s legal professionals sought a mistrial, saying Pressman’s testimony was prejudicial. They had been turned down by Choose Curtis Farber, who’s now overseeing the case.
Whereas there are lots of similarities to the primary trial, there additionally stand to be loads of modifications.
Entin discovered herself answering questions on what she has stated and written in regards to the first trial itself, reminiscent of describing her participation as her “15 minutes of fame.” Entin stated it was a joke.
And she or he wasn’t requested a couple of recollection that made for a memorable and uncommon gentle second on the first trial — a time when she stated Weinstein confirmed up uninvited to the residence she shared with Haley and was chased round by Entin’s pet Chihuahua.
Farber had indicated he didn’t assume having Entin describe the purported episode was honest sport for the trial.
The Related Press doesn’t establish individuals who allege they’ve been sexually assaulted except they comply with be named. Haley, Mann and Sokola have accomplished so.
