One of the women who originally jailed Harvey Weinstein in New York for sex crimes says she is likely to testify again if the case is retried following Weinstein’s surprising acquittal.
23 years for the 72-year-old former movie mogul Sentenced on one count of rape And one count of criminal sexual conduct was struck out on appeal Thursday after a panel of judges ruled he did not receive a fair trial.
Miriam “Mimi” Haley, a former “Project Runway” production assistant, testified in a 2020 trial that Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him.
She said Friday that if he is indicted again, she would like to take the stand on behalf of the “group” of women Weinstein allegedly abused and because it is “the right thing to do.”
“It was a very long process,” Haley explained at a press conference. “The preparation process was much longer and rehashing and reliving than the parts the public sees.” [it] again and again. ”
But she added, “I think because that’s what happened.” [testifying again]”
Haley stressed that she can’t make a firm decision yet because “I feel like I’ve been processing it and I think we’ve all been a little shocked.”
The New York Court of Appeals found that the trial judge made a series of egregious decisions that led to an unfair trial, including allowing witnesses not involved in the original prosecution to testify against Weinstein. vacated his conviction.
The case has been remanded for a new trial, but the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has said it hopes to proceed with the retrial.
Haley said she was “sick to the stomach” when she heard the news yesterday. My heart sank. “
“At this point I absolutely wanted to win,” she said at a news conference held by her attorney, Gloria Allred.
Hayley from Finland, 2020 Tearfully told jurors graphic details. Regarding the allegation of assault on her by a former Millimax executive.
She claimed that during the July 10, 2006 raid on Weinstein’s apartment, Weinstein ripped off her tampon and forced himself on her.
Weinstein was also found guilty of third-degree rape in 2013 for attacking hairstylist and aspiring actress Jessica Mann, but his lawyers said Thursday that they would not reopen the case because the incident occurred outside the statute of limitations. He argued that he could not be prosecuted.
A Big Apple jury has acquitted Weinstein of first-degree rape and predatory sexual assault in connection with his alleged attack on “The Sopranos” actress Annabella Sciorra. Since he was found not guilty, the charges cannot be retried.
A key part of Thursday’s ruling is that a trial judge “erroneously” allowed the three women to testify, even though no criminal charges had been filed against Weinstein in connection with their claims. It depended on the High Court’s approval.
The three women, who have not been charged, are testified at the first trial Given the Court of Appeal’s decision, it is likely that Dawn Dunning, Tarale Wolf, and Laren Marie Young will not all be called back to the stand even if the second trial proceeds.
Haley said she doesn’t think the fact that the other women who made allegations against Weinstein won’t testify at the retrial will change the outcome if the case is retried.
“The truth remains the same. We still have the evidence, so I don’t see why we would get a different result,” Haley said.
“I still believe it stands on its own because so much evidence has been presented,” she added.
Allred said he hopes the New York state legislature will pass a law similar to California’s that would allow uninvolved witnesses in sexual assault charges to testify as character evidence. .
“I see this decision as very protective of defendants,” Allred said. “But what about the victims? Don’t they have a right to a fair trial?”
Mr. Weinstein is scheduled to appear in Manhattan Supreme Court on Wednesday for his next steps, prosecutors confirmed Friday, adding that he has been moved to New York City’s Rikers Island to prepare.
“Our mission is to center the experiences and well-being of survivors in every decision we make, and we intend to do so as we move to the next stages of this case,” a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office said Friday. .
