Harvey Weinstein’s rape trial continued Wednesday as two more witnesses, Tarale Wulff and Dawn Dunning, took the stand in the New York State Supreme Court. These witnesses act as “Molineux” witnesses — ones who share incidents of a defendant’s prior bad acts that are not directly related to current charges.
Weinstein's trial has moved swiftly. Initially, the case was expected to last into March. Current estimates project the prosecution should be finished by Monday, according to The Associated Press.
In court Wednesday, both women shared accounts of alleged sexual abuse in the early 2000s from a man who told them it was just part of the film industry, they said.
Wulff detailed an alleged incident from 2005 in which Weinstein allegedly grabbed her arm at a cocktail bar, took her to a corner and masturbated in front of her. Later, she told how he allegedly raped her at his apartment in New York during what was supposed to be a meeting for an upcoming film role.
"I just froze. Going blank is easier for me. It's just easier for me to get past it. I just remember getting up. I don't remember anything in between ... It was just easiest for me to pretend it didn't happen and go about my day." — Tarale Wulff
Dunning also described her relationship with Weinstein as "a work relationship" in which she was trying to land a movie role, according to USA Today.
From the witness stand, she told about Weinstein showing her film contracts with an assistant present and then allegedly asking for a threesome. She also brought up a hotel room encounter in which Weinstein allegedly fondled her genitalia.
"I stood up. I was in shock. He just started talking really fast. He said, 'Don't make a big deal about this. It will never happen again.' " —Dawn Dunning
Wednesday’s proceedings marked one week since the start of the trial, which opened Jan. 22. Weinstein faces charges for rape and other charges relating to sexual abuse, with the possibility of life in prison.
So far, actresses Annabella Sciorra and Rosie Perez have taken the stand, along with forensic psychiatrist Dr. Barbara Ziv. Ziv also testified in Bill Cosby's trial in 2018 to help dispel "rape myths" to the jury. Key witness Mimi Haleyi testified Monday, tearfully describing alleged forced oral sex, a story that was corroborated by her former roommate.
Weinstein’s lawyers will attempt to show the encounters were consensual and use friendly emails as evidence.
The New York Times reported Weinstein has been anxious and isolated leading up to the trial, saying he seems numb from the swiftness of his downfall and remains preoccupied with how he is presented in the media.
“You brought this upon yourself by hurting so many,” actress Rose McGowan told him on the first day of his trial, according to The New York Times. “You have only yourself to blame.”
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