LOS ANGELES — Harvey Weinstein’s alleged deformed genitalia will likely be laid naked and mentioned intimately throughout his trial over alleged intercourse crimes, prosecutors revealed Monday.
The disgraced Hollywood mogul’s accusers will take to the stand and describe “distinctive issues about his physique” — together with his testicles — as they recall how he allegedly sexually assaulted every of them, Deputy District Lawyer Paul Thompson mentioned in his opening assertion at Los Angeles Superior Courtroom.
“What I’m referring to is the results of a surgical procedure that the defendant had in 1999,” Thompson instructed the jury as 70-year-old Weinstein shook his head.
“Due to an an infection, his testicles had been really taken from his scrotum and put into his inside thighs,” he continued.
“Not one of the Jane Does will describe his anatomy completely, however most of them will be capable to describe these abnormalities that they noticed through the assaults.”
He added that the surgical procedure brought on “fairly noticeable scarring,” which will likely be seen in images proven in courtroom because the trial unfolds.
Weinstein — who's already serving a 23-year sentence for rape and sexual assault in New York — is now on trial for allegedly sexually assaulting 4 ladies in Los Angeles between 2004 and 2013.
“Every of those ladies got here ahead independently of one another … and they're going to let you know that the defendant assaulted them,” Thompson mentioned.
“After the defendant assaulted the ladies, they felt emotionally devastated. They feared that he might destroy their careers in the event that they reported what he had carried out to them.”
Thompson additionally performed a video slideshow, which flashed up images of his accusers with quotes from prior testimonials that had been learn out to the jury — together with “I’m shaking and form of being dragged into the bed room” and “he put his penis in me however he wasn’t erect.”
Different descriptions included: “He undressed me and I used to be fondling my breasts. … after which got here on my face” and “I used to be shocked. I used to be terrified. I stored saying, ‘No! No!'”
Weinstein’s 4 accusers to testify within the case are anticipated to be recognized solely as Jane Does, although California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s spouse, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, is among the many accusers and has beforehand been recognized as Jane Doe 4.
“Seventeen years in the past, when she met the defendant in 2005, she was a powerless actor attempting to make her manner in Hollywood,” Thompson mentioned, with out particularly naming Newsom.
Weinstein allegedly raped her in a West Hollywood resort room after she was lured there beneath the pretenses of a enterprise assembly, Thompson mentioned.
Weinstein, who was wearing a black swimsuit, white button-down shirt and blue tie, didn't react and stared blankly on the jury because the prosecutor detailed among the allegations leveled in opposition to him.
4 different ladies, separate from the Jane Doe accusers, may also testify at trial that Weinstein sexually assaulted them, however their allegations didn't result in legal costs.
One of many unique ladies concerned within the trial seems to have dropped out, however Thompson remained tight-tipped when requested if she would nonetheless testify.
“Whereas now we have no remark at the moment, our workplace is tirelessly making certain all the victims on this case obtain justice,” officers with the DA’s workplace instructed The Put up on Monday.
In his opening statements, Weinstein’s lawyer Mark Werksman instructed how earlier than the MeToo motion, it was commonplace in Hollywood for ladies to commerce intercourse for profession development.
He mentioned: “Hollywood … was a wholly completely different place. In Hollywood, intercourse was a commodity. That’s the best way issues had been carried out.”
Werksman even raised a slight chuckle from his consumer as he instructed the jury: “Take a look at him! He’s not Brad Pitt or George Clooney.”
He additionally made a dig at Siebel Newsom, saying: “Immediately she is the spouse of Gov. Newsom. She’s the primary companion of California … She’s made herself a outstanding sufferer within the MeToo motion … in any other case she’d be simply one other bimbo who slept with Harvey Weinstein to get forward in Hollywood.”
The previous film mogul has denied any non-consensual intercourse and has pleaded not responsible to the fees.
Monday’s trial ended with emotional testimony from Jane Doe 1, who claimed the disgraced producer allegedly raped her in February 2013 in her resort room in LA.
The girl, who was an actress, mentioned she had attended the Los Angeles Italia Movie Pageant that evening, the place she noticed Weinstein.
Jane Doe 1 sobbed as she recounted how Weinstein compelled his manner into her room at round 12 a.m. and allegedly demanded she “suck his balls” whereas he masturbated.
She mentioned she repeatedly instructed Weinstein that she was a mom however he grabbed her hair and compelled her mouth onto his genitalia.
“It was depressing,” Jane Doe 1 mentioned. “I used to be attempting to get away and he grabbed my hair. … He pulled me to his personal half … and compelled me to do what he requested. I used to be crying, choking.”
The trial continues on Tuesday with Jane Doe 1’s testimony.
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