NEW YORK (AP) — After 5 weeks of testimony from Harvey Weinstein ’s accusers and different prosecution witnesses at his intercourse crimes retrial, his protection has began presenting its personal witnesses. But it surely’s unclear whether or not the ex-studio boss himself can be one in all them.
He is on account of determine by finish of court docket Thursday whether or not to testify. If he does, it could be a exceptional twist — and doubtlessly dangerous authorized transfer — within the yearslong saga of the onetime Hollywood honcho-turned-#MeToo outcast.
Weinstein, 73, is being retried on rape and sexual assault fees as a result of New York’s highest court docket overturned his 2020 conviction. He denies the allegations, and his attorneys keep that something that occurred between him and his accusers was consensual.
Weinstein did not testify at his authentic trial. Many defendants in legal instances do not.
The U.S. Structure ensures that they do not must. Jurors are advised that they cannot maintain such silence towards defendants and that it is as much as prosecutors to show their case; defendants don’t must show something. If defendants do take the stand, they open themselves to pointed questioning from prosecutors.
Weinstein’s attorneys started calling witnesses late Wednesday, beginning with a physician-pharmacist discussing a drugs that had come up in testimony.
Within the weeks prior, the protection requested loads of questions geared toward elevating doubts concerning the credibility and accuracy of what jurors have been listening to from prosecution witnesses, significantly Weinstein’s three accusers within the case.
Two of the ladies allege that he forcibly carried out oral intercourse on them, individually, in 2006. The third says he raped her in 2013.
All three have been making an attempt to construct careers in present enterprise and say he preyed on them by dangling work prospects.
