Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for rape and sexual assault at a Los Angeles court.
The movie mogul was found guilty of rape and two other sexual misconduct charges involving a woman known as Jane Doe One, after a trial in December.
The woman said the incident happened after Weinstein appeared uninvited at her hotel room during a Los Angeles film festival in 2013.
Weinstein, the co-founder of Miramax Films, a US movie production and distribution house, will serve the sentence after completing his 23-year sentence for a sexual misconduct conviction in New York.
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Just before his sentencing, Weinstein begged judge Lisa Lench for “mercy”, telling her that he “didn’t deserve” to spend life behind bars, adding that the allegations against him had been a “set up”.
“Your Honour… I maintain that I am innocent,” he told the packed out courtroom,” Weinstein said.
“I never raped or sexually assaulted Jane Doe One. I don’t know that woman and she doesn’t know me.
“This is a made-up story. With all due respect, Jane Doe One is an actress… Jane Doe One can turn on the tears.
“Please don’t sentence me to life in prison, I don’t deserve it. I beg your mercy”.
The former producer, who is 70 years old, was wheeled into court wearing a grey Los Angeles County jail uniform and remained seated as he addressed the court.
During the two-month trial, which began in October last year, the court heard how Weinstein had used his influence to organise private meetings with women, where he attacked them. – Agencies