A mistrial has been declared in Harvey Weinstein’s third New York rape trial.
The judge in the case declared the mistrial after the jury had deliberated for more than two days but been unable to reach a verdict. The judge said the jurors were “hopelessly deadlocked” and dismissed the jury.
Prosecutors have been given 30 days to decide whether to try the case for a fourth time.
The trial concerned the charge that Weinstein had raped aspiring actress Jessica Mann in a hotel room in 2013.
The disgraced former Hollywood mogul had been convicted of raping Mann in 2020, but that verdict had been overturned, leading to a second trial last year. In the second trial, the jury delivered a mixed verdict on two other counts but then deadlocked on the third-degree rape count involving Mann, causing the judge to order a new trial. Weinstein had pleaded not guilty on all three charges.
In a statement, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said he was “disappointed” about the latest mistrial.
“For nearly a decade, Jessica Mann has fought for justice,” the statement went on. “Over the course of many weeks during three separate trials, she relived unthinkably painful experiences in front of complete strangers. Her perseverance and bravery are inspiring to the members of my office, and more importantly, to survivors everywhere.”
The statement added: “We will consider our next steps in consultation with Ms Mann, and in consideration of Harvey Weinstein’s pending sentencing following last year’s trial conviction for forcibly sexually assaulting Miriam Haley.”
A representative for Weinstein said in a statement: “After hearing the evidence multiple times and seeing two juries unable to reach unanimity, it’s clear there is significant reasonable doubt here. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office should stop retrying the same case and focus its time and resources on the actual violent crime, chaos and public safety issues impacting New Yorkers every day.”
Weinstein has been incarcerated since his first rape conviction in 2020. He received a 16-year sentence following a Los Angeles rape conviction in 2023. That verdict is being appealed.
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