Jury deliberations in Harvey Weinstein’s latest trial have been anything but smooth. Tensions ran high among jurors, leading to serious concerns about their ability to reach a fair verdict. The jury foreperson reported to the judge that some jurors were "attacking" each other and trying to sway his opinion.
On Wednesday, the situation escalated. The foreperson told the judge that one juror had made threatening comments, saying, "I’ll meet you outside one day." This prompted Judge Curtis Farber to address the jury, acknowledging that deliberations can get heated but emphasizing the need for civility.
The following day, the foreperson expressed his fear of returning to the jury room due to the hostile environment. As a result, Judge Farber declared a mistrial on one of the rape charges against Weinstein, specifically the charge brought by actress Jessica Mann.
Weinstein’s spokesperson stated that they believe the conviction could be overturned due to "gross juror misconduct." Juda Engelmayer, the spokesperson, mentioned that while Weinstein is disappointed with the verdict, he remains determined to fight to clear his name.
This trial focused on allegations from three women: Miriam Haley, Jessica Mann, and Kaja Sokola. All three accused Weinstein of using his influence in the entertainment industry to sexually abuse them. The jury found Weinstein guilty of assaulting Haley but acquitted him of charges related to Sokola. The mistrial was declared for Mann’s charge.
This latest conviction adds to Weinstein’s legal troubles, as he is already serving a 16-year sentence for sex crimes in Los Angeles. An appeals court previously overturned his conviction in New York, citing unfair trial practices.
The jury’s deliberations were marked by further issues, with one juror claiming others were "shunning" a panel member, describing the behavior as "playground stuff." Concerns were also raised that jurors were considering Weinstein’s past allegations when making their decisions, prompting the judge to remind them to focus solely on the current case.
Weinstein, who has health issues including cancer and diabetes, attended the trial from Bellevue Hospital rather than Riker’s Island jail, sitting in a wheelchair during proceedings. He faces accusations from over 100 women, and while not all resulted in criminal charges, the recent conviction could mean he spends the rest of his life in prison.
Weinstein and his brother Bob were once prominent figures in Hollywood, co-founding Miramax, known for films like "Shakespeare in Love" and "Pulp Fiction."