AMERICA is braced for its biggest trial in decades as fallen Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein finally faces justice for his alleged sex crimes.
Described as “God” by actress Meryl Streep at the height of his powers, he will look anything but that as he hobbles into court to defend himself against a series of sexual assault and rape charges.
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And with its captivating mix of sleaze and A-list celebrities, insiders say the court case — which starts tomorrow — could be an even bigger media sensation than the OJ Simpson murder trial, which gripped the world in 1995.
Public interest is so high because of the huge power movie super-producer Weinstein wielded in Tinseltown — and the global #MeToo movement his downfall sparked.
Under New York law, the proceedings cannot be televised. But online and cable channel Court TV, which shot to fame with its coverage of the OJ trial, will be running blow-by-blow coverage and analysis.
‘ I still have nightmares, of white, revolting flesh ’
Weinstein, 67, who recently used a Zimmer frame to walk into court, is accused of raping one unnamed woman in a New York hotel in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on production assistant Mimi Haleyi at his Manhattan apartment in 2006.
In total, he faces five charges — one of a criminal sexual act in the first degree, two of predatory sexual assault and one each of rape in the first and third degree. Predatory sexual assault carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The studio mogul turned himself in to police in May 2018, but his downfall began in October 2017 when the New York Times published a story detailing decades of alleged sexual harassment by him.
Actress Ashley Judd was among those to come forward, as were several former female employees.
Among the claims were that he forced women to massage him or look at him naked, for promises of career advancement.
Days after the New York Times piece, another bombshell story, in the New Yorker magazine, included allegations by 13 more women — including three accusations of rape.
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Actress Asia Argento, as well as once-aspiring actress Lucia Evans, and an unnamed woman claimed Weinstein forced himself on them.
Evans’ claim that she was forced into a sex act after going to his office for a supposed casting meeting, aged 21, had been part of the criminal case against him but was controversially dropped after prosecutors said she gave a witness a different version of events.
Hollywood reeled as big names then came forward, one after another, with horrifying stories about Weinstein, prompting his British fashion designer wife Georgina Chapman to leave him.
Scream actress Rose McGowan tweeted that Weinstein raped her when she was 23. She later reached a £76,000 settlement with him.
Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra accused him of forcing his way into her flat and raping her in 1993. The alleged incident was too long ago to lead to criminal charges but the judge has allowed the claimant to testify in the upcoming trial.
Other big names who have come forward with sexual misconduct stories about Weinstein include Mira Sorvino, Rosanna Arquette, Daryl Hannah, Salma Hayek, Heather Graham and Uma Thurman. A-listers Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow also said they were harassed.
British stars Cara Delevingne, Kate Beckinsale and Lena Headey told of creepy hotel encounters and The Sun told how Weinstein allegedly propo-sitioned Myleene Klass with a “sex contract” at the Cannes film festival in the South of France in 2010.
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Hollyoaks actress Lysette Anthony said Weinstein raped her in her London home in the 1980s — and in a recent TV interview she said: “I still have nightmares, of white, revolting flesh, and skin with pores like bloody black volcanoes stuffed with crusty pus.”
Recounting sleazy propositions from Weinstein, 12 Years A Slave star Lupita Nyong’o recalled how, after she rejected his advances and asked if they were then “good”, he replied: “I don’t know about your career, but you’ll be fine.”
As the allegations stacked up, Hollywood royalty including Quentin Tarantino, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and George Clooney deserted and condemned Weinstein.
In total, more than 80 women have accused the dad of five of sexual assault, sexual harassment or rape. But Gloria Allred, a lawyer for Haleyi and Sciorra, told The Sun on Sunday it was not unusual that the New York case, to be heard at the State Supreme Court in Manhattan, is focusing on a small number of allegations.
She said: “Most criminal cases don’t include everyone and anyone who may make an accusation."
"Prosecutors are very, very cautious. They are more conservative about filing against powerful, famous or infamous men because they know there will be extra scrutiny and they know powerful figures have very significant money to spend on their defence and investigators.”
‘It takes great courage to take the stand’
Allred, who also represented the family of murdered Nicole Brown Simpson in the OJ Simpson case, said of the Weinstein trial: “Do I think it will be bigger? In coverage, potentially, as people have more access to the internet than they did in the Nineties.
“I have had enquiries about this from around the world — not just the UK . . . Germany, Scandinavia, France, Australia, so many I can’t even name them all.”
The lawyer described how hard it has been for her clients to decide to take the stand. But she said: “I hope they [the accusers] will not focus on Weinstein, even though he will be sitting there. Hopefully they’ll focus on what they allege is their truth.
“It takes great courage, because all witnesses for the prosecution can expect to be vigorously attacked by Mr Weinstein’s team.”
But she added of the trial: “None of us know all the evidence, except the prosecutors and potentially the defence, but sometimes there’s evidence admitted at trial that no one knows will be forthcoming.
“So it’s impossible to say if the jury will find him guilty.”
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WHO'S WHO OF COURTROOM LEGAL TEAMS
DEFENCE: Weinstein’s lead lawyer is Donna Rotunno, a specialist in men accused of sex crimes. She will be joined by Damon Cheronis, Arthur Aidala and Marianne Bertuna. Aidala’s former clients have included rapper 50 Cent
PROSECUTION: Manhattan District Attorney Joan Illuzzi-Orbon is lead prosecutor. Marsha Bashford, chief of the New York Sex Crimes Unit, oversaw the investigation and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr brought the charges
Weinstein has denied all claims of non-consensual sex made against him.
His representative, Juda Engelmayer, said: “He’s cautiously optimistic but anxious. You’re looking at something that could put him away for the rest of his life, away from children and family.”
Last month, it emerged that Weinstein was on the verge of reaching a £19million settlement with more than 30 actresses and ex-employees. But news of the deal sparked outrage — as the payout would have come from insurers for the Weinstein film company.
One accuser involved in the settlement, model Zoe Brock, 45, said: “It’s a joke and signifies a broken system.” After news of the deal emerged, Polish ex-model Kaja Sokola, 33, filed a lawsuit accusing Weinstein of sexually assaulting her when she was 16.
She said the proposed settlement was not “fair or just”. Weinstein called her claim “preposterous”.
Weinstein, whose bail was recently doubled to more than £1.5million over claims he tampered with his ankle monitor, recently broke his silence to claim he should be PRAISED for his treatment of women.
Speaking from a swish hospital suite in New York after a back op he needed following an August car crash, he said: “I feel like the forgotten man. I made more movies directed by women and about women than any film-maker, and I’m talking about 30 years ago. I did it first. I pioneered it.”
He was hitting back after claims he faked his recent aliments to win sympathy. But he refused to talk about his trial. Instead, he said alleged victim Gwyneth Paltrow became the top-paid female actor in an independent film thanks to him, and touted his charity work and “social-justice” films he made.
Some of Weinstein’s victims not involved in his prosecution plan to attend the trial to show solidarity.
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THE KEY WOMEN
THE jury will hear from six witnesses – the two primary accusers, Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra, and three other as-yet- unidentified women.
Pulp Fiction actress Rosanna Arquette has said she will attend the first day of the trial as well as the days Sciorra testifies.
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CHILLING END
Giant spider drags goldfish out of pond for dinner as horrified owner looks onOne of them is Rosanna Arquette, 60, who says she went to a hotel to get a script from Weinstein in the Nineties and he answered the door in his dressing gown and pulled her hand toward his crotch.
She said: “Our presence is important. It’s supporting each other. This trial is for everyone.”
Swingers star Katherine Kendall, 50, who says Weinstein chased her naked around his apartment when she was 24, added: “It will send a message to the world that men like this, in power, can’t keep getting away with this.”
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