Harvey Weinstein trial: Jury find Weinstein guilty of sexual assault

Weinstein, 67, had arrived at court after breakfast at the Four Seasons New York Downtown hotel, wearing a navy blue suit and leaning on a walker.

Weinstein pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi and raping Jessica Mann, a onetime aspiring actress.

The former film producer appeared to be in an upbeat mood as he said “good morning everyone,” to reporters in the courthouse hallway and paused for photos.

Weinstein was flanked by his legal team as he arrived at court.

A judge has ordered Harvey Weinstein to be jailed immediately after his sexual assault conviction, he will not be allowed bail and will receive his full sentence in March.

The charges were in relation to allegations made by two women.

Harvey Weinstein found guilt of sexual assault

Harvey Weinstein found guilt of sexual assault (Image: Express)

He was found guilty of criminal sex act for assaulting a production assistant at his apartment in 2006 and third-degree rape of a woman in 2013.

The jury found him not guilty on the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault, that could have resulted in a life sentence.

Weinstein was accused of raping a woman in a New York hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on another woman in 2006.

In Manhattan, Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi’s closing statement, she branded him an “abusive rapist” and a “predator”.

Weinstein entering the New York court

Weinstein entering the New York court (Image: GETTY)

She said: “When Harvey Weinstein met the witnesses, he looked quite different than he does today.

“They were scared.

“They felt isolated and they were alone.’”

Weinstein’s trial began in January this year.

Donna Rotunno, Weinstein’s attorney, told the jurors in her closing statement: “Have the courage to make the right decision, no matter how unpopular you might be when you get back to work or your home.”

Harvey Weinstein uses a stroller to enter court

Harvey Weinstein uses a stroller to enter court (Image: GETTY)

Weinstein still faces charges in Los Angeles of rape and sexual assault of two women in 2013.

More than eighty women, including famous actresses, had accused him of sexual misconduct stretching back decades.

He could have been looking at a potential life sentence if he had been convicted of predatory sexual assault, but he still faces up to 25 years in prison for the present convictions.

The case was at the centre of the #MeToo movement that inspired women to go public with misconduct allegations against powerful men.

Harvey Weinstein entering court

Harvey Weinstein entering court (Image: GETTY)

Weinstein shot to fame with critically acclaimed films such as Pulp Fiction, The English Patient and Shakespeare in Love.

He had pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi and raping Jessica Mann, a former aspiring actress.

Miss Haleyi, who had worked on one of Weinstein’s television productions, said she was assaulted by the producer after he invited her to his Lower Manhattan home.

She testified that he backed her into a bedroom, held her down on the bed and forced himself on her.

Harvey Weinstein enters court

Harvey Weinstein enters court (Image: GETTY)

Miss Mann said that she found herself in an “extremely degrading” relationship with him that did not involve intercourse until he raped her in 2013.

She said he was a “Jekyll and Hyde” figure who could be charming in public but showed his dark side when they were alone.

Another one of Weinstein’s accusers, Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra, told jurors that he raped her in her apartment one night in 1993 or 1994.

Her allegation was too old to be charged as a separate crime, but prosecutors used it in an attempt to demonstrate that the accused was a repeat sexual offender.

source: express.co.uk