A rape accuser of Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis was grilled Friday by his attorneys on the witness stand about her intercourse life and drug and alcohol use.
One-time publicist Haleigh Breest is testifying for the second day in Manhattan Supreme Court docket in her civil case towards the 69-year-old “Crash” director, accusing him of raping her in his Soho penthouse on Jan. 31, 2013.
Haggis denies he raped Breest and has maintained the encounter was consensual.
Haggis’ lawyer Priya Chaudhry requested Breest dozens of questions on her intercourse life and about each time she had intercourse earlier than the alleged rape.
Breest admitted to having three one-night stands previous to that evening, and stated she solely tried to have intercourse one time after the alleged rape.
Chaudhry additionally requested Breest whether or not she had been ingesting throughout these encounters, and Breest stated she had been for almost all of them.
“On how many individuals have you ever carried out oral intercourse,” Chaudhry probed, prompting Breest to reply between 5 and eight.
“These have been occasions once you have been ingesting?” Chaudhry requested.
Haleigh Breest was grilled on the witness stand about her intercourse life and alcohol and drug use by Paul Haggis’ attorneys
Breest claims that the filmmaker raped her in his Soho residence in 2013.
Breest claims that she repeatedly instructed Haggis “no” and “cease” throughout the alleged rape.
“No, not all,” Breest replied.
Breest admitted she had been ingesting champagne at an open bar on the evening of the alleged rape and was tipsy. She had been working a movie premiere at her freelance job with the Cinema Society Membership, the place Haggis was attending as a celeb visitor.
“You don’t bear in mind what number of drinks you had that evening,” Chaudhry requested, to which Breest answered no.
Chaudhry additionally pressed her on whether or not she instructed Haggis she had been ingesting: “You by no means instructed Mr. Haggis you have been drunk? … You weren't visibly intoxicated?” she requested.
Breest answered no to each questions.
Later, jurors noticed textual content messages Breest despatched a good friend earlier on Jan. 31, 2013, asking her, “do u have any of these anti anxiousness drugs on you?”
Breest additionally requested the good friend if she had Ambien — a sleep support.
“I do!” the good friend replied, noting she had Xanax, however steering Breest away from Ambien.
“I like desperately want,” Breest stated, including she wanted the meds “to get me via the following few days.”
Haggis has maintained that he didn’t rape Breest and that the intercourse was consensual.
The director’s lawyer Priya Chaudhry requested Breest a slew of questions on why she went again to Haggis’ residence and why she didn’t depart throughout the encounter.
Days later, Breest instructed her good friend she appreciated taking the Xanax she was given. However Breest instructed jurors she didn’t recall ever taking the drug.
Breest additionally requested the good friend the place she might get her personal prescription, explaining to jurors she didn’t have medical insurance on the time.
Breest additionally instructed jurors she is presently taking Ambien and the anti-anxiety remedy Ativan — medicine she stated she began taking commonly after the alleged rape because of the anxiousness she has confronted ever since.
Chaudhry additionally requested a slew of questions on why Breest agreed to go residence with Haggis to his Mercer Avenue residence and why she didn’t depart the penthouse at any level throughout the evening when Haggis was trying to kiss her and main as much as the alleged rape.
“Mr. Haggis had not compelled you into that room?” Chaudhry requested Breest of the visitor bed room the place she claims he raped her.
“As Mr. Haggis bought on prime of you, you weren’t kicking or screaming, have been you?” Chaudhry pressed.
“You didn’t attempt to run out?” the lawyer continued. “You didn't attempt to get up and about, did you?”
Breest replied no to all the questions.
On Thursday, Breest — who was 26 on the time — stated she was “terrified” and “paralyzed” as Haggis allegedly compelled himself onto her. And he or she says because the evening went on, she repeatedly instructed Haggis “no” and “cease.”
The trial started Wednesday, with jurors seeing video testimony from one other publicist who alleged Haggis raped her one time in 1996 when the pair have been engaged on a Canadian TV present.
That girl was one in every of 4 others who have mounted sexual assault claims towards the filmmaker.
Throughout opening statements Chaudhry stated Breest introduced false claims towards Haggis so the jury “will give her numerous Paul Haggis’ cash,” and as a part of an alleged conspiracy by the Church of Scientology to destroy Haggis.
Haggis left the church after over 30 years in 2009 and has spoken out towards the establishment publicly — which he claims is the explanation it has had a vendetta towards him, together with allegedly dredging up false intercourse assault claims towards him.
Breest’s lawyer Zoe Salzman instructed jurors in her opening statements that Haggis used his “storytelling abilities and fame” to prey on girls. “Paul Haggis doesn’t cease when girls say no,” Salzman stated.
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