Harvey Weinstein faces a Lifetime in Jail if convicted as jury deliberations begin in Rape Trial

By Tony Winterburn • Published: 19 Feb 2020 • 13:37

Harvey Weinstein.

Jury deliberations in the rape trial of Harvey Weinstein have begun after a six-week trial came to an end.

The 12-member panel of New Yorkers will now decide if the former movie mogul goes free or spends the rest of his life behind bars. The case is considered to be a landmark moment for the #MeToo movement in Hollywood, as Weinstein’s fall helped trigger an industry-wide reckoning.

In what was described as a very controversial decision, the Judge allowed three other women to testify, as “prior bad acts” witnesses, which bolstered the prosecution’s stance that Weinstein is a serial sexual predator and rapist.

Dawn Dunning, an aspiring actress, said Weinstein stuck his hand up her skirt during a business meeting, and then propositioned her for a threesome, in exchange for movie roles.

Tarale Wulff, an aspiring actress, and model who met Weinstein while working as a cocktail waitress said Weinstein masturbated in front of her at her place of work, and then held her down and raped her on another occasion.

Lauren Young, a former aspiring actress, said Weinstein trapped her in a bathroom, groped her breast and masturbated in front of her.

Judge Burke said jurors must weigh whether these witnesses were “consistent or inconsistent” and “plausible or implausible.”