Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 16 more years in prison for raping a woman in a hotel in Beverly Hills. This increases the likelihood that he will spend the remainder of his life behind bars.
On his wheelchair in court, the 70-year-old Oscar-winning “Shakespeare in Love” producer begged the judge for “mercy.”
“Please don’t sentence me to life in prison. I don’t deserve it. There are so many things wrong with this case,” he said.
Judge Lisa Lench, however, handed 3 consecutive sentences that totalled 16 years for forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by a foreign object, and forcible rape.
The actress (name withheld), called on the judge to give Weinstein “the maximum sentence allowable.”
“His selfish, disgusting actions have greatly impacted my life,” she said. “There is no prison sentence long enough to undo the damage.”
His conviction will be appealed by his lawyers.
Prosecutors in court reported that Weinstein exploited and abused several women for years, and long enjoyed impunity because of his superstar status in the industry.
The defence brought a motion requesting a new trial or a reduced verdict which was denied before the sentencing went ahead.
Allegations against Weinstein broke out in 2017, launching the #MeToo movement which paved way for hundreds of women to stand against sexual violence in the workplace.
After he was convicted in New York, $17 million was awarded against him to dozens of other women who had accused him of sexual abuse. The civil suit alleged sexual battery, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence.
“The conduct of Defendant Weinstein was despicable, and done with malice, oppression and fraud, thus justifying an award of punitive damages against him,” her lawsuit says.
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