NEW YORK (AP) — A judge in New York declared a mistrial on Friday in the rape case against Harvey Weinstein after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict. This marks the third time the #MeToo-era case has proceeded to trial.
The proceedings focused on allegations that Weinstein sexually assaulted Jessica Mann, a hairstylist and actor, during a 2013 incident. The case examined whether Weinstein committed rape against Mann during what his defense team characterized as a consensual relationship between the then-married Weinstein and Mann, who was decades his junior. Mann testified about a hotel room incident where she said he sexually assaulted her against her will.
Jurors listened to almost three weeks of evidence, including Mann’s testimony. Weinstein chose not to take the stand in his own defense.
Here are the key details about this legal case:
Weinstein received his original conviction in 2020, but an appellate court reversed that decision. The appeals court determined the trial judge improperly permitted testimony regarding accusations that were not directly related to the charges at hand.
During a second trial last year, jurors found Weinstein guilty on one criminal sex act charge while clearing him of another. However, deliberations on Mann’s rape allegation came to a halt when the jury foreperson declined to continue participating, leaving that matter unresolved and necessitating the retrial that concluded in mistrial Friday.
After three days of deliberations, the jury informed the judge they had reached an impasse, but he instructed them to continue their efforts. Eventually, they submitted another message stating: “We feel that no one is going to change where they stand.”
When jurors in a criminal proceeding cannot achieve unanimity, judges generally declare a mistrial.
Several members of the predominantly male Manhattan jury expressed doubts about Mann’s credibility and revealed outside the courtroom that nine of the 12 jurors favored acquittal.
One juror, Josh Hadar, commented that Mann demonstrated an “incredible memory” during her testimony for prosecutors but “forgot a lot of things” when cross-examined by defense lawyers.
Mann endured five days of challenging and emotional testimony that involved extended periods of questioning.
District Attorney Alvin Bragg indicated his office will discuss the possibility of another trial with Mann and will consider what occurs during Weinstein’s sentencing for his recent conviction.
A court hearing is scheduled for June 24 for prosecutors to determine whether they will pursue a fourth trial.
Weinstein had been incarcerated in a New York facility serving a 23-year sentence following his 2020 conviction. Following the reversal of that conviction, he continues to be detained due to his 2022 Los Angeles conviction for rape and sexual assault, which resulted in a 16-year prison term. He is currently housed at Rikers Island jail while his legal proceedings continue.
During last June’s retrial, Weinstein was found guilty of one criminal sex act charge after a jury determined he forced oral sex on Miriam Haley, a television and film producer and production assistant, approximately twenty years ago.
Haley had been employed on the Weinstein-produced program “Project Runway” and testified that he attacked her in July 2006 after asking her to visit his SoHo residence before a flight. Weinstein is challenging this conviction.
In Los Angeles, he was found guilty during a December 2022 trial on one rape count and two sexual assault counts involving an Italian actor and model. The woman testified that he appeared uninvited at her hotel room during a 2013 film festival before the Oscars, persuading his way inside and assaulting her.
