Weinstein jury suggests deadlock over top charge

The jury in Harvey Weinstein’s rape trial hinted it was struggling to reach agreement on the most serious charge of predatory sexual assault as day four of deliberations ended Friday without a verdict.

The 12 jurors asked New York state Judge James Burke whether
they could be hung on one or both of the top counts but unanimous on the three
lesser counts.

Weinstein, 67, faces life in prison if the jury of seven men
and five women convict him of predatory sexual assault following the Manhattan
trial.

The jury is considering five counts against the fallen film
producer: two of predatory sexual assault, two of rape and one of engaging in a
criminal sexual act.

The jury must reach unanimous verdicts on each count,
although if they find him guilty of the most serious charges, they do not need
to consider the lesser ones.

On Friday, the jurors submitted a written question to Burke
asking whether they could be deadlocked on the predatory sexual assault charges
but reach decisions on rape and the criminal sexual act.

Burke told them to take more time after lead prosecutor Joan
Illuzzi-Orbon said the state was not willing to accept a partial verdict at the
moment.

“Please resume your deliberations,” he said,
without directly answering their question.

The defense said it was OK with a partial verdict.

The jury was dismissed at 3:00 pm (20:00 GMT) and will reconvene at 9:30 am Monday.

The charges relate to ex-actress Jessica Mann and former
production assistant Mimi Haleyi.

Mann, 34, says Weinstein raped her in March 2013, while
Haleyi alleges he forcibly performed oral sex on her in July 2006.

To convict on predatory sexual assault, they must believe one or both of the women plus The Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra who says Weinstein raped her almost 30 years ago.

Sciorra’s allegation is too old to prosecute as an
individual crime but she was included on the indictment to bolster the
prosecution’s claim that Weinstein was a seasoned sexual predator.

The jury’s question suggests they may had have reached
decisions on the two rape counts regarding Mann and the criminal sexual act
charge concerning Haleyi.

It also indicates that at least one juror does not believe
Sciorra’s account.

More than 80 women have accused the Pulp Fiction producer of sexual misconduct since allegations against him ignited the #MeToo movement October 2017.

Weinstein maintains that all his sexual relationships have
been consensual.

Article source: https://www.samaa.tv/entertainment/2020/02/weinstein-jury-suggests-deadlock-over-top-charge/