As a California court handed Harvey Weinstein a 16-year prison term, the actor and producer pleaded for his life.
Two months after a jury found the 70-year-old disgraced film mogul guilty of three charges of rape and sexual assault, he was sentenced to death in a Los Angeles courtroom yesterday (February 23).
According to The Independent, he was convicted of rape and sexual assault in a different jurisdiction in 2020 and is now serving a 23-year term in a New York state prison.
The conviction was a watershed moment for the #MeToo movement, which empowered women to come out against sexual misconduct in the entertainment business.
At a recent court hearing, the ex-Hollywood executive was given a sentence for the 2013 rape of an actress (identified only as “Jane Doe 1” for legal reasons).
According to Sky News, the jury convicted him guilty in December of rape, forceful oral copulation, and sexual penetration by a foreign object.
Before knowing his fate, Weinstein reportedly termed the case against him a “set-up.” Furthermore, he begged: “Obviously, this is a work of fiction. The first Jane Doe is an actress. She has an on/off switch for crying.
“If possible, I ask that you not give me a life sentence. I am not deserving of this. There are several problems with this scenario “he explained to the jury.
“Insufficient attention has been paid to closing the gaps. This case has far too many flaws to proceed. This is the pretext. Nothing could be farther from the best course of action right now “saying, “Please have compassion on me.”
California authorities said the convicted sex offender had broken into the room of an unnamed Italian actress and model and sexually assaulted her.
The victim, who was quoted by NBC Washington, described her ordeal in court while wiping away tears “The night before, I was a confident and content lady. Having a good connection with God and with myself were two things I really cherished.
“I had high hopes for the years to come. Once the defendant physically attacked me, my life took a drastic turn for the worst. The harm can’t be undone by any amount of time in jail “In her defence, she did contribute something.
Legal counsel for Jane Doe 1 David Ring stated after the conviction, as reported by Sky News: “The sentence today offers Jane Doe 1 with closure and relief, knowing Weinstein will spend the rest of his life in jail where he deserves.”
Jane Doe 1 and the other victims showed incredible bravery in coming out to testify, and now Weinstein has no choice but to settle, the attorney said.
Weinstein, formerly a dominant figure in the entertainment world, has pleaded not guilty in the Los Angeles case and said that all of his sexual contacts were voluntary.
Juda Engelmayer, a spokeswoman for him, called the punishment “severe,” and he was given a three-year term, which his legal team had asked in light of his declining health.
While “many” may rejoice at this decision, Engelmayer told NBC News, “it is a terrible day for justice and fairness,” and he hoped that “no one who is thrilled with this” would ever find themselves on the wrong side of cancel culture while helplessly and voicelessly pleading innocence.
According to the BBC, the Academy Award-winning film producer sat in court looking away and didn’t respond as the punishment was given.