Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 23 years in prison

Harvey Weinstein was sentenced Wednesday in a New York courtroom to 23 years in prison, the culmination of a case that fueled the global #MeToo movement and encouraged women to speak out against sexual abuse.”I really feel remorse for this situation,” the former Hollywood producer said, his voice barely audible, as he addressed the court before the sentence was handed down.

“I feel it deeply in my heart. I will spend my time really caring and really trying to be a better person.” I’m not going to say these aren’t great people, I had wonderful times with these people, you know,” Weinstein said of his accusers. “It is just I’m totally confused and I think men are confused about all of these issues.”Weinstein, 67, arrived at his sentencing hearing in a wheelchair and in handcuffs. He had faced between five and 29 years in prison for last month’s convictions on a first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape.

Judge James Burke sentenced him to 20 years in prison for the criminal sexual act and three years in prison for rape. The sentences will run consecutively and both come with five years of supervision after release, and Weinstein must register as a sex offender.

“This is the first conviction, but it is not the first offence,” Burke said. Weinstein wore a blank face as he was taken out of the courtroom. His accusers cried together in the front row.

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Afterwards, prosecutors and leaders of the #MeToo movement praised the lengthy sentence. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said it “puts sexual predators and abusive partners in all segments of society on notice.”Weinstein’s defence attorneys had asked that he be sentenced to five years in prison and argued that, given his frail health, anything longer would constitute a de facto life sentence.

Defense Donna Rotunno lambasted the 23-year punishment as “obscene,” “obnoxious” and “cowardly,” and she argued that Weinstein did not get a fair trial.”There are murderers who will get out of court faster than Harvey Weinstein will. “That (23-year) number spoke to the pressure of movements in the public. That number did not speak to the evidence that came out of trial,” she said.

Source – https://edition.cnn.com/