Weinstein process: Last chance of justice for the victims!

Weinstein process: Last chance of justice for the victims!

Los Angeles, USA - The trial against Harvey Weinstein, which has already been burned into public awareness, is coming to an end. The prosecutor Nicole Blumberg held her final plea and explained that Weinstein had raped three women. She emphasized that the applicants - Miriam "Mimi" Haley, Jessica Mann and Kaja Sokola - kept in touch with him after the attacks because they were afraid of repression. Blumberg continued that the women "feared their retribution" and had suppressed their trauma. This behavior is not atypical for victims of sexual violence, which often remain silent for fear of social or professional consequences.

Weinstein's lawyer, Aidala, countered the allegations and questioned the credibility of the plaintiffs. He argued that they had used their beauty to win Weinstein for their careers and asked the jury to decide for the accused in case of doubt. It is a sharp replica on the impressive evidence that the public prosecutor's office presented.

The legal fate of Weinstein

Weinstein is now faced with the possibility of lifelong prison. He has already served a 16-year sentence in California for rape and attack on an actress. The new negotiation began in April 2023, after its original judgment had been lifted for procedural errors. A year ago, the court found that mistakes were made in the procedure, especially that women who were not part of the indictment were allowed to testify. This decision shocked many supporters of the Metoo movement , who regarded the Weinstein case as the trigger of their protests.

16-year-old Kaja Sokola was only 16 years old at the time of her first rape. This shows the precarious situation in which there are often young women in particular when they become victims of sexual violence. Lawyer Annemarie McAvoy explains that it is not just a statement against a statement, but a variety of women with similar allegations. Although Weinstein denies that his contacts were not mandatory, the multitude of charges have weight.

The influence of the #metoo movement

The reporting on Weinstein's actions to found the Metoo movement Has started sexual assault. In recent years, reforms in sex criminal law have been demanded to meet victims and to hold perpetrators to account. These reforms contain the introduction of new facts such as "sexual harassment" and "upskiring" as well as the extension of limitation periods, which makes it easier to file advertisements.

The public pressure has also led to the judges and lawyers have become more sensitive to the suffering of the victims. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen how these reforms prove themselves in practice and whether further adjustments will be necessary. The developments related to this process are therefore of great importance not only for those affected, but also for the entire society.