Mel Gibson could possibly take the stand in Harvey Weinstein’s sex crimes trial here in Los Angeles.
In a motions hearing today at the Criminal Courts building in downtown Los Angeles, lawyers for the incarcerated producer and the L.A. Country District Attorney’s office argued over whether or not the Oscar-winning Gibson would be allowed to testify as a corroborating witness for Jane Doe No. 3.
Gibson stated in an interview on May 18, 2021 that he noticed something unusual when he mentioned Jane Doe #3 while he was receiving a massage. “Harvey,”The woman began to cry. Gibson was able to deduce from Gibson’s initial responses that Weinstein had sexually assaulted and groped her. According to court records, Weinstein allegedly assaulted Gibson at a hotel located in LA County in 2010.
Gibson will not be allowed to stand in the high profile trial by Judge Lisa Lench, even though he may. It is not uncommon for cases like these to have more witnesses than they are called. Though Gibson’s potential presence on the stand was discussed in open court today, the witness list in the Weinstein trial remains officially sealed.
Mark Werksman, Weinstein lawyer argued unsuccessfully Friday that GIbson didn’t like Weinstein and shouldn’t be allowed to testify.
“Shortly after (Gibson’s film The Passion of the Christ) came out, Mr. Weinstein’s publishing company, Miramax Books, put out a book called Perspectives on Passion of the Christ debunking the movie’s anti-semitic overtones and false depiction of the Jews.”
“This created a feud between Mr. Gibson and a Weinstein. Mr. Weinstein is jewish … Mr. Gibson knew that,”Werksman spoke as the first week of jury-selection ended. The defense lawyer continued. “Any evidence of Mr. Gibson’s racism or anti-semitism would give rise to a bias against my client, who challenged him.”
The judge said Weinstein’s lawyers could bring up the Passion of the Christ and Weinstein’s book on its anti-Semitism argument, but not quotes from Gibson’s 2006 arrest in which he made anti-Semitic remarks.
With California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom now identified among the alleged victims and expected to testify, Weinstein faces grand jury indictments of four counts of rape, four counts of forcible oral copulation, one count of sexual penetration by use of force, plus one count of sexual battery by restraint and sexual battery in incidents involving five women in L.A. County from 2004 to 2013. Sentenced to 23-years in prison by a Manhattan jury in March 2020 for multiple sex crimes, and moved to the West Coast in the summer of 2021., 70-year old Weinstein is looking at 140 years behind bars if found guilty in L.A.
Once the jury has been seated, opening statements will be made on October 23.