The jury did not say what it had decided on the lesser counts. The predatory sexual assault count requires prosecutors to prove that Mr. Weinstein committed a serious sexual felony against at least two people.
The case against Mr. Weinstein, 67, was built primarily on the accusations brought by two women: Miriam Haley, 42, a former production assistant who testified that Mr. Weinstein forced oral sex on her in 2006; and Jessica Mann, 34, an actress who said Mr. Weinstein raped her in a Midtown Manhattan hotel room in 2013.
In weighing the predatory sexual assault charges, the jury was also asked to consider testimony given by the actress Annabella Sciorra, who said Mr. Weinstein raped her in the early 1990s. Prosecutors were barred by New York State’s statute of limitations from bringing charges in the incident involving Ms. Sciorra, 59, who was the prosecution’s strongest witness.
The jury’s note suggested that one or some jurors did not believe Ms. Sciorra. In previous notes, jurors have asked to review testimony given by both Ms. Sciorra and Ms. Haley, as well as to review communications and emails related to the two women.
Mr. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty and claims all his sexual encounters with his accusers were consensual.
Michael Gold contributed reporting.
Source Article from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/nyregion/weinstein-verdict.html
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