Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 23 years

[Cwenthryth]

YES!

Just announced this in the office as it flashed up on my phone. Everyone cheered.

Wankstain wasn’t convicted of all the crimes

Still can’t see the 20 vs 3 logic though

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3845289-Harvey-Weinstein-sentenced-to-23-years?watched=1&msgid=94618229#94618229

BBC news just said he’s likely to fight, presumably means appeal.

I'm surprised he's only 67. He looks a lot older. Or is he is he faking / playing on that?

He's like Dorian Grey without the portrait.

I’m at shocked he got so long.
Thrilled but shocked.

My ex was convicted of 6 counts of rape against two different women and he got 16 years. Got out after 8 of course.

Thanks to the posters who reminded us of this case too

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-51841177

But I've just emailed bbc as I am quite unhappy with some of the wording in this article, I'm curious if others have picked up the same issue upon reading?

Graphista, I can’t see anything but I did notice there was no “if you have been affected by this issue” like there was with the man who raped men.

"Developed relationships with them"

In my opinion it's more accurate to say they were groomed. Adults absolutely can be and are groomed by abusers.

Particularly offensive as part of he and his defence teams argument of defence was that because they continued the "relationship" after the abuse occurred this meant that they consented to the abuse.

I had a feeling you might say that

I’m okay with “developed relationships” because that was what he was doing in a way. I get a bit concerned about the term “grooming” because it seems like something that happens to the vulnerable....”manipulated” makes more sense to me I guess.

I would like the helpline numbers to be added to these articles.

Yes I think helpline numbers added would be good.

These women likely were vulnerable in some way though don't you think? I mean we all are to a degree sadly in this deeply misogynistic patriarchal world, but I suspect these were very young women. Possibly had already been victims of other abusers which is more common than anyone likes to admit.

If you've been a victim of one predator you're more likely to become a victim of another and not because you've done anything "wrong" but because somehow these bastards are very good at knowing who to target.

And I say that as a csa survivor myself and as someone who has since experienced other assaults and abuse.

I'm harder to target now but mainly as I don't have a life!

Good. And I have no qualms about him dying behind bars.

I have no qualms about him dying behind bars.

It's like the line from True Grit

• Why did they hang him so high in the tree?
• Presumably in the mistaken belief that it would make him more dead.

Reading this thread, I'm feeling that women on this board are entitled to an occasional piece of feminist whataboutery. Slavery and servitude , dying in uncivilised conditions, uncivilised and unsafe prisons, inadequacies of healthcare .... yes, by all means let's talk about those but frankly I don't want to spend my headspace on thinking about them in relation to a long term rapist who should have been put away years ago. There are plenty of men who doubtless can wring their hands (some of them maybe thinking, shit, that could be me one day) and work on improving conditions for elderly rapists. It's not the job of a feminism board.

I've just had an interesting discussion about this.

Apparently 'half' the women will be lying and exploited him so the sentence is a bit harsh.

Of course this discussion was with men. When I asked where this 'half' figure came from, no one could tell me. It changed to a 'significant' proportion.

He was sentenced on the basis of the specific cases which were tried and of which he was found guilty. Your friends' speculations are irrelevant.

Yes I completely agree.

Apparently it's the American system.

I've been reading a bit more about the charges to understand exactly why the sentencing was what it is. As far as I understand the rape was in the third degree which is the "mildest" (I don't know what other word to use) form of rape. As I understand it is used in a situation where the victim was coerced/inebriated rather than forced. On the other hand the criminal sex act was in the first degree which means use of force, holding someone down etc. That's why that charge got 20 years whereas the rape got 3.

He was actually up for even more serious charges including rape in the first degree but was acquitted of those. The 20 year sentence is at the top end of what people typically get for that crime and I wonder if that reflects the fact that he was up for so many, even more serious, charges that obviously weren't able to be proven in court.

The 20 year sentence is at the top end of what people typically get for that crime

Is it at the upper end for men convicted of more than one offence? I'd expect that might make a significant difference to the sentencing.

The 20 year sentence is at the top end of what people typically get for that crime and I wonder if that reflects the fact that he was up for so many, even more serious, charges that obviously weren't able to be proven in court.

In sentencing, the judge actually mentioned cases that didn't come to court. In England, I don't think you can sentence people for crimes they haven't been tried for. I am fairly sure that if the judge thought he'd only been guilty of the one crime he wouldn't have been given 20 years for it.

I am fairly sure that if the judge thought he'd only been guilty of the one crime he wouldn't have been given 20 years for it.

Probably. But, while mentioning untried cases sounds like something we wouldn't do here, HW was convicted of two separate crimes.

Apparently 'half' the women will be lying and exploited him so the sentence is a bit harsh.

Well that's nonsense isn't it? Rape and sexual assault cases are the hardest to get convictions for because it invariably boils down to one person's word against the other. Add to that, the prosecution is swimming against the tide due to the presumption of innocence and the burden of proof resting with them. This is also a case involving an extremely wealthy man and a legal system where the better the legal defense you can afford the greater your chances of a not guilty verdict.
His conviction could not be more sound as far as I am concerned. I think rather than doubting the integrity of the women who have had the courage to stand up and be counted, reasonable people should be wondering how many more victims might there be?

US prison systems massively underfunded. Poor staff to inmate ratio. Private I vestments meansnthe system monetized. Near absence of education, rehabilitation, healthcare, nutrition, mental healthcare...all the stuff necessary to maintain the basic needs of a human. Expect HW to lose a massive amount of weight and improve his health and life expectancy if he doesn't get done over by an inadequately medicated inmate with a mental health diagnosis.
The system is cruel as a byproduct not necessarily des8gn. The profit margin means every ounce is squeezed out of the system and fuck all invested. Even outbof general population he will be at risk.
Welcome back to the real world Harvey

Graphista, I feel for you.

Mockers, I haven’t seen the film but you hang em high so they can be seen farther away surely?

People speculating, do they understand there was a specific set of cases heard or do they think is everyone who said “me too”?

@AutumnRose1 thank you

It is so disgusting and disappointing that there are people STILL questioning the validity of the allegations and his accusers. I'm guessing all men?

Just HOW do we get through to them that the vast vast majority of allegations/accusations are not only true but a mere drop in the ocean given many victims NEVER report and a significant number never tell anybody?

Unfortunately any pleasure I would take in knowing Harvey Weinstein has got his come uppance is massively limited by the fact that this whole problem is deep and systemic and there are thousands and thousands of abusers and rapists walking free. We got Harvey Weinstein, R Kelly is (finally) back in court, Kevin Spacey lost a few movie deals. What about everyone else?

Now the Weinstein saga is over we'll see limited coverage of #metoo in the media. I personally know a fairly famous actress who was told she had to sleep with the director to get the part. She can't speak up about it because it would be her word against his and she could ruin her career. What will change for women really after #metoo? Not much I don't think.