2 weeks Ago By Alex West
With the Harvey Weinstein retrial underway , shocking bombshells are being uncovered as the director's rape allegations are being revisited . Stephan Sterns, Weinstein 's former assistant, took the stand in New York , recalling his time working with him. While traveling, he claimed he was required to carry a hard shell, silver briefcase that was kept locked up.
"I had to know where it was," he said, but did not specify anything about the contents. He was further asked about Weinstein's business process, explaining they rented out three hotel rooms while traveling — one for personal use, one for his boss, and one for their meetings. "Was it regular for him to conduct meetings in hotel rooms?" he asked before replying, "Yes.
" Weinstein's retrial started with a total awkward moment after a juror delayed the court by running late . As the jury members were allowed in the court, Judge Curtis Faber scolded the group, reminding them of the importance of punctuality. Thereafter, opening statements began as prosecutors recounted grim allegations of sexual assault from witnesses who are expected to take the stand.
Unlike the last trial, Kaja Sokola, who was 16 at the time of the alleged incident, is set to share her story, marking her as the youngest of Weinstein's alleged victims. Shannon Lucey, assistant district attorney, claimed Weinstein told her, "This is what happens in the industry. You have to be comfortable removing your clothes.
" Further, the prosecutor said Weinstein allegedly brought her to the bathroom before taking off his clothes and putting her hand on his penis. She claimed he said, "See it wasn't so bad? You've got to work on your stubbornness ..
. This changed Kaia in ways she's still dealing with today." The defense countered the allegations in their own opening statement.
Arthur Aidala, Weinstein's defense attorney, told jurors, "There's common sense and then there's something that just doesn't seem right to me. Their evidence just doesn't seem right ..
. Folks, after you hear all the evidence, their case is going to fall flat on its face." He claimed Sokola's allegation was based on a lie.
He later compared the prosecutor's argument to a circus, noting that his cross-examination of the witnesses will show jurors "the smell ...
the poop and the pee" of the show. His strange statement elicited a response from the judge. "I don't know where you're going with this," he told the attorney, as the courtroom erupted in laughter.
After a boisterous start to the day, the court concluded with a much drier state. According to the Independent 's Kelly Rissman, the court was originally filled with 80 members of the press and 20 members of the public, but only 25 reporters and 10 members of the public remained to the end. She wrote, "Even on a sunny day in New York, the park across from the courthouse, which is typically packed during high-profile cases, is quiet — as if one of the world's most notorious men of the era isn't just feet away.
There were no protesters and no supporters." Weinstein has pled not guilty. DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.
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