Harvey Weinstein Rape Jury Begins Deliberations on Aggravating Factors That Could Increase His Prison Time

20.12.2022 - 22:45 / thewrap.com

The L.A. jury that on Monday convicted Harvey Weinstein of three out of seven felony counts in his rape trial on Tuesday resumed deliberations on aggravating factors that could lengthen the disgraced mogul’s prison sentence.The jury is weighing whether Weinstein carried out the rape of Jane Doe 1 with planning, sophistication  or professionalism, and whether Jane Doe 1 was particularly vulnerable.

Weinstein faces up to 18 years in prison, but that total rise to 24 years if the jury agrees that the aggravating factors have been met. In the courthouse Tuesday, prosecutor Paul Thompson took 10 minutes to argue that was Jane Doe 1 was particularly vulnerable under California law because she suffered a “loss, injury or harm or any of those three things.”He noted that it was “obvious” Jane Doe 1 was still terrified and emotional when testifying in the case; that she spoke about being emotionally distraught and sitting in the shower for hours following the rape.

Thompson also homed in on the fact in the days, weeks and months following the rape she suffered guilt and shame and drank to self-medicate.Jane Doe 1’s particular vulnerability was also clear, Thompson argued, because she was a resident of Italy who was in Los Angeles at the time of the assault. Further, he noted thatEnglish was not her first language and she did not speak English well back in 2013 (at the time of the rape) and her entire support system was back in Italy.

He stated that her particularly vulnerability also came from the manner in which the crime was committed: it was a “surprise situation” and she “had to think on the fly… [Weinstein] knew what he was going to do. She didn’t.”He also said that while Jane Doe 1 didn’t have a home here, the closest thing