Entertainment

Harvey Weinstein legal team ordered to ‘leave witnesses alone’ as criminal trial begins


Harvey Weinstein was in good spirits as he made his way into court (Picture: Reuters)

Harvey Weinstein’s legal team received a firm warning from the judge to ‘leave witnesses alone’ as his criminal sexual misconduct trial began earlier today.

The former Hollywood producer arrived at the New York Criminal Court on Monday (6 January) using a walking frame following his back surgery in December.

Weinstein, 67, faces five charges including rape and predatory sexual assault relating to two unnamed accusers, following allegations which started to emerge in 2017 sparking the #MeToo movement.

As the first day of the court proceedings unfolded today, Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi referred to Weinstein as a ‘predator’ while addressing the court, the Mail Online reports.

Illuzzi went on to accuse Weinstein’s lawyer Donna Rotunno of ‘degrading and humiliating and putting down our witnesses’, and reportedly requested a gag order.

However, Rutunno slammed these accusations and replied: ‘I have not degraded anyone.’

Judge James M Burke then waded in to issue a stern warning to Weinstein’s team, stating: ‘Leave the witnesses alone, OK? Don’t talk about them in any way.’

Rose McGowan addressed protestors outside court (Picture: Rex Features)
Rosanna Arquette is also one of Weinstein’s most vocal accusers (Picture: AP)
Protestors outside court. Weinstein’s trial is expected to last six weeks (Picture: Reuters)

Jury selection is scheduled to start this week.

Weinstein, whose companies have been behind such films as Pulp Fiction, The English Patient and Shakespeare In Love, is charged with raping one woman in a hotel room in the New York borough in 2013, and performing a forcible sex act on the second woman in 2006.

He denies the charges and all allegations of non-consensual sex.

Rosanna Arquette and Rose McGowan, two of his most vocal accusers, held a press conference outside the court where they were surrounded by other protestors.

Addressing Weinstein directly, McGowan said: ‘Dear Harvey, no matter what lies you tell yourself, you did this.

‘Today, Lady Justice is staring down on a super predator. You brought this upon yourself by hurting so many. You have only yourself to blame.’

‘I came here today to see this through. I came here today to stand side by side with these other women who you also harmed and to be a voice for the voiceless. … You thought you could terrorise me and others into silence. You were wrong.’

The trial is expected to last for six weeks after the jury is selected.



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MORE: Rose McGowan addresses Harvey Weinstein outside court ahead of rape trial: ‘You only have yourself to blame’

MORE: Harvey Weinstein arrives at court on walker as criminal trial begins





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