Harvey Weinstein trial: Photos of mogul with Bill Clinton and Queen Elizabeth are debated on day 2 of retrial
In opening statements on Wednesday, prosecutors introduced the jury to a third accuser Kaja Sokola who alleges she was assaulted by the mogul at the age of just 16
The rape and sexual assault retrial of disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein continued on Thursday in a New York courtroom.
Weinstein, who was wheeled into court in a wheelchair as proceedings kicked off on Wednesday, is being tried again after New York’s highest court last year overturned his 2020 conviction and 23-year prison sentence in a major blow to the #MeToo movement.
State prosecutors brought a new charge against Weinstein in September: a criminal sexual act stemming from accusations from former model and aspiring actress Kaja Sokola. He is being retried on charges of rape and criminal sex act based on accusations from former TV production assistant, Miriam Haley, and aspiring actress, Jessica Mann.
The 73-year-old has pleaded not guilty.
In her opening statement on Wednesday, prosecutor Shannon Lucey recounted the claims of several accusers, telling them that Weinstein "didn't take no for an answer.” The court was also introduced to the account of Sokola, the third woman bringing forward allegations in Weinstein's retrial. She did not testify in the previous trial.
Sokola was 16 at the time that she alleges Weinstein sexually assaulted her and is reportedly the youngest accuser to speak out against her.
Court is not sitting on Friday or Monday.
Wheelchair-bound Weinstein arrives in court
Harvey Weinstein has arrived in court, and has been wheeled in in a wheelchair.
It’s understood that this morning’s proceedings were delayed in starting after one juror was late.
All 12 are now here.
Jury members entering court
The jury is entering the court.
Judge Curtis Farber is scolding the jury to make sure everyone comes on time in the future...
Opening statements should be starting shortly.
Opening statements begin
In her opening statement, Shannon Lucey, assistant district attorney, says Weinstein used “dream opportunities as weapons.”
"I just find you so attractive. I couldn't resist. I couldn't resist. I could not take no for an answer," she began. "Harvey Weinstein... hollywood gatekepper... held power for 30 years in that industry."
"He held countless meetings in hotel rooms with actors, models, producers, assistants. Weinstein had enormous control over those working in TV and film because he determined who was in and out."
"He used those dream opportunities as weapons"
Prosecutors reference account of Weinstein accuser
Lucey made reference to the claims of Weinstein accuser Mimi" Haleyi.
After working at Project Runway, which The Weinstein Company produced, before being invited to Paris by the mogul.
She declined, but she quickly realized ‘no’ wasn't really an answer for Weinstein, Lucey said. He kept calling her and even "forced his way into” her NYC apartment to get her to come to Paris.
"I know your reputation," Weinstein reportedly said. From that, she gathered he left clearly upset and she feared she had ruined any chance at a professional relationship."
In 2006, Lucey said, Weinstein sent a car to pick her up for a movie premiere and later started kissing and trying to grope her. She pushed him away and told her she wasn't interested in anything romantic and physical, Lucey said.
Weinstein "didn't take no for an answer. Defendant pulled Mimi toward him as she repeatedly pulled away. But it did not work. He pushed her into a bedroom."
"He put his weight on top of her and held her down." She kept trying to get up and even insisted that she was on her period, but Weinstein repeatedly "ignored" her and "feared there was no way out and that he might even get more violent."
'The score was Harvey Weinstein - everything, Mimi Haleyi - zero'
After the alleged encounter Haleyi – who was in the U.S. on a visitor’s visa at the time – decided not to report the incident to the police.
She tried her best to move on and to bury her feelings and to put the attack out of her mind, Lucey said, and did not go to the movie premiere.
Another time, at a hotel in lower Manhattan, "she will tell you she doesn't remember much about this incident but the defendant ordering her to get undressed and get on the bed,” Lucey said, adding that the two had had vaginal intercourse and Weinstein had called her degrading names.
She still would reach out on occasion for referrals for opportunities but never worked at the Weinstein Company again.
"The score was Harvey Weinstein - everything, Mimi Haleyi - zero," Lucey said.
Weinstein told separate accuser 'this is what happens in the industry'
Lucey went on to describe the story of Kaja Sokola, who grew up in Poland and was 16 years old when she met Weinstein in new York City in 2002.
Within a few days of arriving, the teen met Weinstein and had a brief conversation and exchanged contact info. "Are you interested in being in the movies?" Weinstein reportedly asked her.
His team reached out to her to discuss her acting potential and a car was sent to pick her up, Lucey said, and she followed Weinstein into an apartment.
"This is what happens in the industry. You have to be comfortable removing your clothes," Weinstein had allegedly told her. He then shuffled her into the bathroom, put his hands on her chest, slid off his underwear, and puts her hand on his penis, Lucey told jurors.
After he purportedly told her: "See it wasn't so bad? You've got to work on your stubbornness.”
"This changed Kaia in ways she's still dealing with today," the prosecutor said.
Who is Kaja Sokola?
Kaja Sokola is the third woman bringing forward allegations in Weinstein's retrial. She did not testify in the previous trial.
Sokola was 16 at the time that she alleges Weinstein sexually assaulted her and is reportedly the youngest accuser to speak out against her.
She later settled with Disney, Bob Weinstein and Miramax for $3 million for what allegedly happened when she was a teenager.
Born in Poland, Sokola was a former model who came to New York in 2002 to pursue a career in acting.
She is now is an advocate and producer and still lives in the city.
Weinstein told accuser 'you owe me one more time' – prosecutors
Lucey described the accusations of actress Jessica Mann.
During one of the alleged encounters, after Mann resisted Weinstein purportedly told her "you owe me one more time."
He grabbed her by her ankles, spread her legs, and put his mouth on her vagina, Lucey said. She did not move and stared at the blank TV screen.
The incident left her with scratch marks on the inside of her legs. Weinstein later apologized and told her "you're just so attractive that I just couldn't help myself,” Lucey said.
Prosecution's opening statement concludes
The prosecution has concluded it’s opening statements.
This case is about "one of the most powerful men in show business,” Lucey said. She added that Weinstein was so used to getting what he wanted, "he was incapable of taking 'no' for an answer.”
There will now be a 10 minute recess before the defense makes its opening remarks.