Harvey Weinstein ‘held party on Super Bowl Sunday’ hours before he appeared to sleep in courtroom
Representative says Weinstein had get-together with attorneys and friends
Harvey Weinstein held a party on Super Bowl Sunday hours before apparently dozing off in the courtroom during his criminal trial.
The producer’s representative told Page Six that Weinstein “held a small get-together to say thank you.”
A representative later told The Independent: “It was a small gathering, fewer than 20 people and it was his attorneys, friends and their spouses and plus-ones.”
On Monday, The Associated Press noted that Weinstein “appeared to be sleeping at times during the emotional testimony” in the New York City courtroom where he was facing trial for alleged sex crimes.
The former movie mogul was described as “closing his eyes and drooping his head in his chair at the defence table. A juror also dozed off for a spell, prompting a scolding from judge.”
Weinstein was asked by a reporter outside the courtroom why he had been sleeping, to which he scowled: “Oh please.”
Prior to his downfall, Weinstein was known to host watch parties of the NFL playoffs, known as the “Weinstein Sundance Bowl” football parties.
Weinstein is facing trial in New York City on charges that he raped a woman in 2013 and performed a forcible sex act on another woman in 2006. He has pleaded not guilty and denied all allegations of non-consensual sex.
On Monday, a woman who alleges that Weinstein raped her in 2013 broke down in tears while testifying, prompting the judge to adjourn the proceedings until the following day.
Prosecutors wrapped up their case on Thursday, clearing the way for the former producer’s lawyers to begin calling their own witnesses as the trial moves one step closer to a verdict.
The defence team hasn’t said whether Weinstein himself will testify. Doing so could be a risky move since it would enable prosecutors to grill him about each of the allegations that jurors have already heard about in vivid detail.
Weinstein attorney Donna Rotunno immediately asked the judge to dismiss the case on Thursday, arguing that testimony from the woman Weinstein is charged with raping “does not in any way show a forcible act by Mr Weinstein.” The judge rejected the request.
Among the witnesses the defence is expected to call is a psychologist who specialises in human memory. The defence is looking to raise doubts about the women’s recollections of alleged encounters.
Additional reporting by agencies