NEW YORK (AP) — A jury of seven women and five men has been picked for Harvey Weinstein’s #MeToo rape retrial, a more female panel than the five women and seven men who convicted the onetime Hollywood honcho at his first trial five years ago.
Opening statements aren’t expected until Wednesday, as prosecutors and defense lawyers still need time to finish picking the last of six alternate jurors — those who step in if a member of the main panel can’t see the trial through.
Drawn from Manhattan’s jury pool, the 12 members of the main jury include a physics researcher, a photographer, a dietician, an investment bank software engineer, a retired city social worker, and more.
After nine jurors were picked last week, three others and five alternates were tapped Monday during a marathon fourth day of jury selection. They and other prospective jurors were quizzed about their backgrounds, life experiences and various other points that could relate to their ability to be fair and impartial about the highly publicized case.
“You may hear sexual allegations here of a salacious nature — graphic, perhaps. Would hearing that indicate that … Mr. Weinstein must be guilty?” defense attorney Mike Cibella asked one prospective juror. The woman, who ultimately was chosen, answered no.
Potential jurors had been questioned privately about their knowledge of the case and opinions about Weinstein, and some people were excused after those queries behind closed doors.
Still, when the questioning moved into open court, prosecutor Shannon Lucey sought assurances that prospective jurors could put aside any position or feelings they had about the #MeToo movement. It was catalyzed in 2017 by a raft of sexual misconduct allegations against Weinstein, then a high-flying movie producer and one of the most powerful people in his industry.
“Is there anyone who is going to think of the movement and think, ‘OK, that’s just something that I have to keep in the back of my mind when I’m deciding this case’? Everyone can put that aside?” Lucey asked a group of 24 possible jurors. All indicated they could do so.
Weinstein is being tried again on rape and sexual assault charges after New York’s highest court last year overturned his 2020 conviction and 23-year prison sentence. The Court of Appeals found that his trial had been tainted by improper rulings and prejudicial testimony.
Weinstein, 73, has pleaded not guilty and denies raping or sexually assaulting anyone.
The retrial involves charges that he raped an aspiring actor in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and committed a criminal sex act by forcing oral sex on a movie and TV production assistant in 2006.
He also is charged with another criminal sex act count, based on an allegation from a woman who was not a part of the original trial. She alleges that Weinstein forced oral sex on her at a Manhattan hotel.
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