After a day of intense testimony at Harvey Weinstein’s rape trial, prosecutors are anticipated to shift gears Thursday with a slate of ancillary witnesses.
Two aspiring actresses testified Wednesday that Weinstein preyed on their vulnerabilities whereas pushing the notion that intercourse may result in movie roles.
Tarale Wulff choked again tears as she testified Weinstein raped her at his New York Metropolis condominium in 2005 throughout what was imagined to be a movie audition.
The casting director for that movie is anticipated to testify on Thursday, together with the supervisor of the Manhattan scorching spot the place Wulff labored as a cocktail waitress and met Weinstein. Wulff alleges that on one event there, earlier than the alleged rape, Weinstein masturbated in entrance of her.
Daybreak Dunning testified Wednesday that in 2004, Weinstein put his hand up her skirt and fondled her genitals throughout a gathering in his lodge suite about her fledgling appearing profession. At one other assembly, Dunning stated, Weinstein tried buying and selling film roles for intercourse, claiming the lewd provide was the type of factor that occurred on a regular basis within the movie enterprise.
Dunning’s fiancé on the time is anticipated to testify Thursday.
Testimony on non-public intelligence firm anticipated
Wulff and Dunning’s experiences with Weinstein usually are not a part of the underlying legal expenses in opposition to him, however their testimony could possibly be a consider whether or not he goes to jail on the finish of his landmark #MeToo-era trial.
Prosecutors known as them as witnesses below a state legislation that enables testimony about so-called “prior unhealthy acts,” enabling them to discover issues like motive, alternative, intent and a typical scheme or plan.
Weinstein, 67, is charged with forcibly performing oral intercourse on Mimi Haleyi, on the time a Venture Runway manufacturing assistant in 2006, and raping one other aspiring actress in 2013. That lady may testify later this week.
Weinstein has insisted any sexual encounters had been consensual.
Jurors are additionally anticipated to listen to Thursday about Weinstein’s efforts to maintain his alleged behaviour secret, together with his use of a personal intelligence firm as reporters from The New York Instances and The New Yorker pursued tales about him in 2017.
The Related Press doesn’t sometimes determine individuals who say they’ve been victims of sexual assault, until they comply with be named or have gone public with their tales, as Haleyi, Wulff and Dunning have achieved.
