Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty of Sexual Assault & Rape

High profile Hollywood movie producer Harvey Weinstein has been found guilty of sexual assault. The sixty seven year old, Weinstein was convicted of third-degree rape and criminal sexual act and faces up to 25 years in prison. The jury of seven men and five women reached their verdict on Monday morning after five days of deliberations. The jury acquitted Weinstein on two counts of predatory sexual assault, which carried a potential life sentence. More than 80 women, including famous actresses, had accused him of sexual misconduct stretching back decades.

The Harvey Weinstein case was the epicentre of the now globally widespread #MeToo movement that inspired women to go public with incidents of sexual assault, sexual advances and other allegations against powerful men.

"Harvey Weinstein operated with impunity and without remorse for decades in Hollywood. Yet, it still took years, and millions of voices raised, for one man to be held accountable by the justice system."

Following the verdict, Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement, thanked both the "survivors who courageously testified," and jury that "voted to find an unremorseful Harvey Weinstein guilty."

She said it took many years and millions of voices but it was worth it.  "Harvey Weinstein operated with impunity and without remorse for decades in Hollywood. Yet, it still took years, and millions of voices raised, for one man to be held accountable by the justice system," she said in a statement.