Los Angeles, Aug 6 : Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein’s most recent hearing in his sexual assault case was delayed because an inundation caused a lockdown in the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, the Los Angeles prison where he is currently in jail. “Just an ordinary delay,” one of Weinstein’s lawyers, Mark Werksman, told members of the media waiting in the courtroom, according to “Variety”
“My client, who is on the payphone, is in his cell,”” Weinstein’s attorney told reporters at 9:29 a.m.He demanded an update from the bailiff who was talking with the prisoner trying to arrange for transportation to allow Weinstein to be transported to the courthouse to attend the hearing.
“It is my belief” the judge Lisa B.Lench began, “That there was a flood at Twin Towers where Mr.Weinstein is residing.It’s 9:40.”
The trial was initially scheduled to begin at 8:15 a.m.It was the most recent court date that would lead to Weinstein’s long-awaited Los Angeles sexual assault and rape trial.
Judge Lench delayed the hearing until the 10th of August, but first addressed with a few issues pertaining to the defense’s subpoenas for witnesses.
In the past week in another trial hearing the judge Lench was able to restrict the quantity of details that can be gathered by Weinstein’s defense attorneys for the trial that is scheduled for next week, and also approving the prosecution’s motion to block subpoenas issued by four witnesses to their correspondence, which includes personal messages and texts dating to 2004 with one of the accused victims.
At the time of the hearing the judge said she did not intend to stop the defense from serving any future subpoenas on victims and she would not require them to inform the prosecution in the lead of their plans to serve.
On Friday morning, the discussions were hot with the prosecution challenging Weinstein’s attorney Alan Jackson, who argued that defense attorneys have the authority to request witnesses, without giving advance warning to the prosecution.
“As as Mr.Thompson would love us to give him our playbook, it’s not lawful.It’s our right to be investigated,” Jackson said, speaking of the lead sex prosecutor for crimes Paul Thompson, who argued that the defense’s subpoenas had been “vastly over-the-top.”
“It could have the effect of intimidating witnesses and victimes,” Thompson said, explaining his reasons for his stance.
Weinstein’s lawyers haven’t made “any attempt to limit the limit of the information they’re seeking in the event of a relevant issue in this case.
So, should “something totally irrelevant” is demanded of witnesses of an innocent victim, “we can’t unring the bell.
“I don’t know if they’re too broad,” Judge Jackson.”I don’t know because I’m not able to tell until I have documents.At some moment in the future, there will need to be a chance to make an objection raised when one is legitimately justified.”
Weinstein will be tried on the 10th of October in L.A.He is facing 11 charges of sexual assault and rape by five women.
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