Opening statements start in 'rape' retrial of Harvey Weinstein as court hears disgraced producer used 'unfettered power'
by Shannon Cook · LBCBy Shannon Cook
The opening statements in Harvey Weinstein's 'rape' retrial have begun - as the court hears Weinstein used 'unfettered power' to sexually abuse women.
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Attorneys provided their opening statements on Wednesday in New York.
The trial is his third in five years.
Prosecutors accused the disgraced film producer, now 73, of abusing his power in the Hollywood scene to sexually harass and abuse three women.
Speaking to jurors, Assistant District Attorney Shannon Lucey said: "The defendant wanted their bodies, and the more they resisted, the more forceful he got."
Weinstein is accused of sexually abusing a former television production assistant, an aspiring actress and a model.
The former film producer has pleaded not guilty.
During the trial, Weinstein's lawyers attempted to create doubt about the women's claims and their credibility.
Read more: Harvey Weinstein hospitalised after ‘alarming blood test,’ lawyer says
'Gatekeeper'
Attorney Arthur Aidala told the jury the prosecution case would "fall flat on its face" after jurors heard the evidence.
He added: "They're going to ask you to make sense of things that just don't make sense".
A court of appeals overturned the disgraced film producer's previous conviction for sex crimes in New York last April.
This was prior Weinstein's indictment on fresh charges of sexual assault in New York in September.
Last week, 12 jurors were appointed to decide Weinstein's verdict - seven women and five men.
Ms Lucey delivered an hour-long statement on Wednesday, telling jurors three women had fallen victim to the "Hollywood gatekeeper" who held "unfettered power for over 30 years" in the industry.
The retrial is focused on two women who brought allegations against the disgraced film producer for his trial in 2020 - actress Jessica Mann and former TV production assistant Miriam Haley.
This time round, the trial includes allegations from Kaja Sokola - a former Polish model and actress. Ms Sokola has accused Weinstein of assaulting her when she was 16.
On Wednesday, Ms Lucey retold the three women's experiences of assault and harassment.
The alleged incidents involve Weinstein bringing women to his room under the pretence of a business meeting before allegedly forcing himself onto the women.
'Shame'
According to Ms Lucey, victims reportedly "kept their shame and their pain to themselves" for years due to Weinstein's position as a man who "defined the field" of acting and film.
During the hour of opening statements after this, Weinstein's attorney Mr Aidala accused the women of having "mutually beneficial" sexual encounters with Weinstein.
He also suggested the women may have been motivated for financial gain - calling them "addicted" to fame and urging that they want to be "heroes".
Mr Aidala argued that Weinstein could not have assaulted the women because they sent him 'friendly' messages following the encounter and kept in contact.
A court of appeals said last April that Weinstein did not receive a fair trial in New York in 2020 as the judge overseeing the case permitted testimonies from women who made allegations against Weinstein for conduct he was not charged for.
Weinstein had been serving a 23-year sentence in a prison in New York following his conviction.
He was also found guilty of rape in a separate trial in California in 2022 and was sentenced to 16 years in that case.
Weinstein has been accused of sexual misconduct, assault and rape by more than 100 women.
He is yet to begin his 16-year California sentence and is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison.
On Wednesday, Ms Lucey praised the #MeToo movement for encouraging victims of sexual abuse and harassment to speak out against powerful men.
She said the movement allowed women to see they "were not alone".