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A jury in California found the former Hollywood mogul guilty of three counts of sex crimes, including rape, in Harvey Weinstein’s criminal trial. The panel announced this to the Los Angeles court on Monday after days of deliberations. On one point he was acquitted and on three other points there was no agreement.

The jury, eight men and four women, had to reach a unanimous verdict on each charge. They failed on three counts. Their deliberations lasted more than 40 hours over ten days.

There were seven counts, including rape and other assault. The allegations came from four women from 2004 to 2013. Most of the assaults allegedly took place in Beverly Hills hotels. 70-year-old Weinstein faces a long prison sentence.

With the trial in California, Weinstein was again on trial for sexual assault. A 2020 trial in New York for rape and assault ended with a two-time guilty verdict and a 23-year prison sentence. His legal team recently appealed that ruling. A decision on this is still pending.

In the California trial, which lasted several weeks, the four accusers described alleged beatings at the hands of Weinstein, sometimes tearfully and in drastic detail. According to Weinstein’s lawyers, the sex acts were consensual or some of the allegations were fabricated by the women. According to Weinstein’s lawyers, the accusers had sex with the influential film producer to get ahead in Hollywood.

Prosecutors had portrayed the suspect as a “degenerate rapist” who used his power to prey on women and act like a predator.

Among the plaintiffs was Jennifer Siebel, the current wife of California Governor Gavin Newsom. An aspiring actress and producer, she wanted to talk to Weinstein about professional projects in 2005, but was raped by him in a hotel room, she testified on the witness stand. The jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the two charges against Siebel.

The first Weinstein trial in New York marked a milestone in legal history. The case had sparked the #MeToo movement at the time. Since 2017, more than 80 women have publicly accused Weinstein of sexual assault. (sda/dpa)