The jury deliberating over the Harvey Weinstein case have come to a “partial” verdict, according to court statements. The jury has asked Judge James Burke, according to a statement read in court,
“We the jury ask if we can be hung on counts one and three, and unanimous on the others,” stating that they were uncertain on the two predatory sexual assault counts.
The judge asked that the jury deliberate for an additional half-hour Friday before dismissing them for the weekend. Following their announcement of their “partial” verdict, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi was adamant that the prosecution was “not willing to accept” a partial verdict.
Harvey Weinstein, a former film producer and major Hollywood figure, has had an astonishing fall from grace. His place in the larger cultural context of the “Me Too” movement isn’t to be understated: Weinstein’s outing as a sexual predator and subsequent expulsion from the public eye was the template that numerous other prominent, powerful men unwillingly followed in the past three years.
As for his court case, Weinstein is facing serious charges. These include sexual assault, first- and third-degree rape, and predatory sexual assault. The two predatory sexual assault charges have the jury hung. It’s unclear if they are unanimous for conviction or for acquittal in the other charges, but they are unanimous, according to their note.
If the jury convicts Weinstein on all charges, he will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars. For many survivors of sexual assault, this would likely serve as something of a symbol. Whether intentional or not, Weinstein’s case is emblematic of the “Me Too” movement. His face stands in for the faces of numerous sexual predators.
For his part, Weinstein has plead not guilty to all charges and denies that he’s ever raped any women. New York trial attorney Benedict Morelli stated that the longer the deliberations take, the more optimistic the defense should become.
“While there is no direct link between the time a jury takes to deliberate and the direction of their verdict, a lengthy deliberation does reflect unanswered questions and potential uncertainty,” the lawyer told reporters.
“For that reason, the longer the deliberations take, the more optimistic the defense will become.”
