Accuser in Harvey Weinstein trial becomes emotional, sheds tears and swears at defense attorney during courtroom testimony.
Rewritten Article:
In the midst of Harvey Weinstein's sexual abuse trial, a tearful Miriam Haley shed light on her harrowing encounter with the former movie bigwig.
Warning: This article discusses sexual assault
A predecessor to Hollywood, Weinstein allegedly coerced her into oral sex in July 2006.
This trial is a retrial following the appeal court's overturn of his 2020 conviction.
At the time, Haley was a production assistant.
Weinstein continues to categorically deny all allegations against him, with Haley also testifying during Weinstein's initial trial.
In a Manhattan courtroom, Haley faced tough questions from Weinstein's lawyer Jennifer Bonjean regarding the incident.
Bonjean inquired about Haley's decision to accept Weinstein's invitation to his apartment given her prior allegations of his improper behavior, including his alleged intrusion into her home.
Emotions ran high as Haley was asked about her clothing and Weinstein's actions. Her manner became emotional when Bonjean asked, "You removed your clothes, right?" Haley expressed confusion, saying she mostly remembers Weinstein taking off her clothing without clear recollection of the details.
Jurors were given a break after Haley's emotional exchange, with her face glistening and eyes noticeably red as she left the witness stand.
In February 2020, a court found Weinstein guilty of sexually assaulting Haley and another woman, Jessica Mann, and sentenced him to 23 years in prison. However, his conviction was overturned in April after the appeals court argued that the trial judge inappropriately allowed testimony based on uncharged prior misconduct.
Following this ruling, Weinstein was charged with the rape of one woman and the forced oral sex of two others. Two of these charges are related to the original trial, while the third – a charge relating to forcing oral sex on Kaja Sokola – was added in 2024.
Weinstein continues to maintain his innocence, with his lawyers arguing that his accusers willingly engaged in consensual sexual encounters. Despite the outcome of the retrial, Weinstein remains incarcerated, serving a California rape conviction from 2022, and his legal team is currently appealing that sentence as well.
Note: This retrial revolves around revised charges and adjusted defense strategies, as the initial 2020 conviction was overturned. The primary changes include new allegations stemming from a 2013 incident and a narrowed focus of testimony.
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[1] Further reading: Impact of evidentiary limits and victim-focused witnesses on Harvey Weinstein's 2025 trial - NY Times (insert date)[1] Harvey Weinstein's redefining court battle: From victim-centric strategies to strict evidentiary bounds - Variety (insert date)
- Although Harvey Weinstein's 2020 conviction for sexual assault was overturned on appeal, he was charged again with the rape of one woman and the forced oral sex of two others, including Miriam Haley, in a retrial focused on revised charges and adjusted defense strategies.
- During the trial, Miriam Haley, a production assistant at the time, explained her harrowing encounter with Weinstein, involving an alleged coercion into oral sex in July 2006.
- Jurors on the crime-and-justice front lines are currently deliberating the case, with previous sentencing resulting in a 23-year prison term for Weinstein in February 2020.
- In the general-news sphere, legal experts are closely monitoring the science-and-health implications of sexual assault cases, as well as the health-and-wellness of the victims, including Miriam Haley.
- Meanwhile, Weinstein continues to maintain his innocence, arguing that his accusers willingly engaged in consensual sexual encounters, while his legal team appeals his California rape conviction from 2022.
