A New York judge declared a mistrial Friday in Harvey Weinstein’s rape retrial after jurors said they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.
The closely watched case centered on allegations by Jessica Mann, a hairstylist and aspiring actor, who accused Weinstein of raping her in 2013. Weinstein denied the accusation, with his attorneys arguing the encounter was consensual.
Jury Unable to Reach Verdict
The Manhattan jury, made up mostly of men, deliberated for three days before informing Judge Curtis Farber that they could not agree on a decision. The judge initially instructed jurors to continue discussions, but later declared a mistrial after the deadlock remained unresolved.
The outcome leaves the rape charge against Weinstein undecided following multiple trials in New York.
Previous Conviction Overturned
Weinstein’s original 2020 New York conviction involving Mann and another accuser was overturned by an appeals court, leading to a retrial. A separate retrial last year also failed to produce a verdict after jury deliberations collapsed amid internal disputes.
During testimony, Mann said she had consensual encounters with Weinstein during their complicated relationship but alleged the 2013 incident was nonconsensual. Defense attorneys pointed to continued contact between the two after the alleged assault as part of their argument.
Weinstein Remains Behind Bars
Despite the mistrial, Weinstein remains incarcerated due to separate sex-crime convictions in California. The former movie producer, now 74, has repeatedly denied assault allegations, saying he “acted wrongly” but did not commit sexual assault.
The case remains one of the most high-profile legal battles connected to the MeToo movement era.
For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.
