Inside Harvey Weinstein's jury deliberation as one juror risks mistrial by flagging concerns
Harvey Weinstein's rape retrial is nearing a close as the jury deliberates his fate. However, one juror lifted the lid about what is happening behind closed doors
Harvey Weinsten's rape retrial was nearly derailed at the eleventh hour when a jury member complained to the judge.
He alleged that, during jury deliberations, the atmosphere among the panel was less than desirable. “The experience I’ve had in the day-and-a-half here, in good conscience, I don’t think this is fair and just,” he said, adding that some individuals' opinions were being ignored. The 25-year-old admitted to hearing his co-jurors gossiping in elevators about each other.
According to him, known as Juror 7, the Weinstein deliberations are full of "playground stuff." He asked Judge Curtis Faber to remove him from the case, telling the court official, “There’s a bit of shunning happening."
READ MORE: Paul McCartney swipes at Bruce Springsteen as he 'blames' him for major changeREAD MORE: Kanye's wife Bianca Censori risks arrest in most 'vulgar' look yet as she bares all in streetThe judge disregarded his request, stressing his importance to the case and reminding the juror of his oath. According to Faber, without the juror, the case would "fall apart," especially as they've already circulated in an alternate due to another juror's poor health.
Arthur Aidala, Weinstein's attorney, went off on a tangent, begging the judge for a mistrial. The judge expressed he wasn't concerned, describing the juror as a “25-year-old kid who lives with his grandmother who is a computer kid," who was brave for his choice to come forward to the court with concerns.
However, he also said, “Nothing in his statement stated that the tensions in the jury room were abnormal tensions during deliberations."
Juror 1, the Foreman for the panel, additionally sparked some drama in the courtroom as he attempted to speak openly before they were dismissed for the day on Friday. The judge shut him down, asking him to go to the jury room to write a note. "Forget it," replied the juror as the gallery chuckled.
The jurors heard five weeks of testimony in Weinstein's case. He was previously found guilty, but the decision was later overturned, spurring a retrial. Proceedings droned on and prosecutors even brought forth a new witness, who was Weinstein's youngest accuser yet.
Finally, deliberations kicked off at 11:30 a.m. EST on Thursday. They will continue Monday morning as the public waits to hear the fate of Weinstein, who continues to claim innocence.
During the trial, Weinstein is being held in Bellevue hospital after expressing concerns over the facilities at Rikers Island, where he was previously held. According to his team, Weinstein is facing rapidly deteriorating health. In fact, this isn't his first trip to Bellevue while behind bars.
Previously, the defense attempted to get the trial date moved up as they were concerned Weinstein wouldn't make it to court. His defense team more recently, despite time continuing to dwindle, moved for a mistrial on multiple occasions before, all of which were denied by the judge.