Judge admonishes Harvey Weinstein’s lawyers by telling them ‘nothing you said makes logical sense’ as jury for his sex assault trial is chosen – and HALF are white men
- Ten of the 18 potential jurors have now been selected for Weinstein’s trial and most are white men
- Six are white men, one is a black man, two are black women and the 10th is a Latino woman
- Weinstein’s attorneys tried to block the media from the proceedings on Friday
- They argued that the jury pool is ignoring the media’s request to ignore press reports
- On Thursday, supermodel Gigi Hadid was dismissed as a potential juror
- Weinstein’s trial could extend into March once it gets underway, likely next week
- The 67-year-old faces life in prison if convicted on the five sexual assault charges
The judge in Harvey Weinstein’s sexual assault trial told his team of lawyers on Friday that ‘nothing they say makes logical sense’ after they tried to ban the media from the final day of jury selection where the jury was finalized.
Weinstein, who is still recovering from back surgery which he underwent late last year, arrived at the courthouse in Manhattan in a brown leather jacket and leaning on his walker.
The 67-year-old valiantly climbed up the stairs despite his injuries before making his way inside for another day of proceedings.
The jury had been selected by lunchtime.
Now, six alternates will be chosen. It is made up of six white men, one black man, two black women, a Latino woman and two white women.
Harvey Weinstein arrives at court in Manhattan for what is due to be the final day of jury selection in his sexual assault trial
Weinstein underwent back surgery in late December to help fix an injury he says he suffered in a car accident in August
It took until the final day of selection for any white women – which Weinstein’s accusers mostly are – to be chosen.
Friday’s proceedings cap off a movie-script-worthy week of developments in the trial which included supermodel Gigi Hadid being dismissed as a potential juror.
On Friday, Weinstein’s team of attorneys attempted again to block the media from the proceedings.
They say the jury pool has ignored the court’s orders not to look at press reports surrounding the case.
‘There’s been much more publicity today and articles that have come out about this case.
‘I know the court has been admonishing jurors to not look at anything, but we know some jurors have been ignoring that,’ attorney Arthur Aidala argued.
Judge James Burke shot him down, saying: ‘Your application is denied.
‘Nothing you said makes logical sense to me.’
Weinstein’s attorneys have tried repeatedly to have some of the charges dismissed.
They say he is the victim of a biased press and unfair prosecution.
He is facing life in prison if convicted of the charges.
Weinstein waiting for an aide to bring him his walker before entering the court on Friday
Weinstein and his lawyer Donna Rotunno arrive at the court on Friday morning
They include two counts of first degree rape, third degree rape, criminal sexual act and two counts of predatory sexual assault.
Weinstein was originally charged in May 2018 over two alleged incidents; the 2013 ‘rape’ and a 2004 incident involving Lucia Evans who said he had forced her to perform oral sex on him.
The third incident, which he remains charged over, was first revealed in a second indictment in August 2018.
The charge relating to Evans’ allegation was dropped in October 2018, however, after his lawyer’s proved that one of the detectives leading the case had failed to tell prosecutors that a witness doubted her account.
The two indictments have now been consolidated into one and he will face trial over the alleged rape in 2013 and alleged oral sex in 2006.
At the start of jury selection, a litany of accusers including Rose McGowan planted themselves outside court in a show of stealth against him.
Supermodel Gigi Hadid was dismissed as a potential juror on Thursday. She is shown arriving at court