A Los Angeles jury has found film producer Harvey Weinstein guilty of rape and sexual assault.
After sitting together for nine days, the jury concluded that the 70-year-old pleaded guilty to three counts of rape, forced oral sex and one count of sexual acts against an unnamed woman.
Weinstein was acquitted of sexual assault charges against another woman. The jury could not agree on the other charges, writes the AP news agency.
It’s time for the defendant’s reign of terror to end. It’s time for the kingmaker to be held accountable, prosecutor Marlene Martinez said in her proceedings after the trial.
Among the allegations the jury failed to agree on were allegations by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the wife of California Governor Gavin Newsom, and another woman.
The lack of technical evidence and witness observations for the abuse prosecutors say occurred between 2005 and 2013 means that much of the case hinged on explanations from the four women included in the prosecution.
The former powerful film producer is already serving a 23-year prison sentence after being convicted in New York City of rape and sexual assault.
The allegations against Weinstein surfaced during metoo revelations that surfaced in earnest from 2017 onwards.
In total, nearly 90 women have filed charges against Weinstein, including several famous actors.
The 70-year-old denies criminal culpability and claims that all sexual contacts took place with the women’s consent.
Weinstein is one of the founders of Miramax Films. In his time, the film producer was considered among the most powerful men in Hollywood.
