The American former film producer Harvey Weinstein was found guilty on Wednesday of sexually abusing a former production assistant. He was acquitted of another charge. The jury in New York could not reach a verdict on a third charge.
Weinstein has been convicted in a case that had to be retried. The former film producer was sentenced in 2020 to 23 years in prison for raping an actress in 2013 and sexually assaulting a former production assistant in 2006.
But the New York court of appeals overturned that verdict last year. The court had allowed testimony from alleged victims about offenses for which the former film producer was not on trial. The entire lawsuit had to be redone.
During that retrial in late April, a third charge was added. Weinstein was also charged with sexually assaulting a sixteen-year-old actress in 2002.
The jury ruled on Wednesday that Weinstein is indeed guilty of sexually assaulting the former production assistant in 2006, according to news agencies Reuters and The New York Times.
Weinstein’s sentence will become clear later
Weinstein was acquitted of sexually assaulting the sixteen-year-old actress. The jury has not yet reached a verdict on the rape charge. The jury will deliberate again on that charge on Thursday. It will also become clear later what punishment Weinstein will receive for the conviction.
The 73-year-old film producer is already serving a sixteen-year prison sentence for rape. Weinstein has been accused of sexual misconduct by many women. His prosecution is seen as a milestone for the MeToo movement.