‘YOU WALKED THROUGH HELL’

Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein faces a hefty prison sentence after being convicted at his trial in New York City of third degree rape and a criminal sexual act.

Weinstein (67) was found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting two women but was acquitted of the two most serious counts – predatory sexual assault – which carried a potential life sentence. He was also found not guilty of first degree rape.

Even so, the former movie mogul faces from five to 29 years in prison.

Six women – Dawn Dunning, Miriam Haley, Jessica Mann, Annabella Sciorra, Tarale Wulff and Lauren Young – testified during the trial, while more than 80 have said Weinstein harassed or assaulted them.

One of those, actress Ashley Judd (51), took to Twitter to welcome the convictions. The Double Jeopardy actress was one of the first to go on record about Weinstein’s behaviour, in a 2017 New York Times article that marked the beginning of the #MeToo movement. Her sexual harassment claim against the producer was dismissed in a Californian court early this year because the judge ruled that particular law could not be applied retrospectively.

“For the women who testified in this case, and walked through traumatic hell, you did a public service for girls and women everywhere, thank you,” she tweeted.

Through his lawyers, Weinstein has declared his intention to appeal, and he was heard to exclaim to one of his legal team just seconds after the verdicts were handed down: “I’m innocent. I’m innocent. How can this happen in America?”

Weinstein will be sentenced in New York on March 11. He will also face rape and sexual assault charges in Los Angeles later this year.

Above: Weinstein, who hobbled in and out of court with a walking frame, was hospitalised with heart palpitations after the verdict. Left: Ashley with the producer in 1997. She later said she felt terrified that night.