Harvey Weinstein once sent one of his rape accusers care packages complete with movies, a bottle of Valium, and chocolate penises, according to Thursday’s testimony.
What We Know:
- Annabella Sciorra alleges the fallen media mogul forced his way into her Manhattan apartment, pinned her to a bed and raped her in 1993. She was the first of six accusers to testify against him and take the stand.
- The gesture was “an effort to help me relax and not be so stressed,” Sciorra testified Thursday in Manhattan Supreme Court, adding that she felt on edge because Weinstein wanted her to film back to back movies.
- The first care package, sent to her Central Park West apartment, contained movies including His Girl Friday, licorice, popcorn and a bottle a bottle, she recalled.
- Prosecutor Joan Illuzi-Orbon asked, “Did the defendant send you another care package?” Sciorra replied, “It was a box of chocolate penises…I thought it was disgusting and inappropriate.”
- Sciorra told the court she later attended a dinner with Weinstein and several other people before he drove her home. After she was dropped off, she entered her apartment then responded to a knock at her door. Standing there was Weinstein who quickly pushed his way inside her Gramercy Park Flat.
- The alleged rape was too long ago to lead to criminal charges, but the judge has allowed the claimant to testify at the trial to establish a pattern of behavior.
- Weinstein is also accused of raping an unnamed woman in a New York hotel in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on production assistant Mimi Haleyi at his Manhattan apartment in 2006.
- One of Weinstein’s lawyers, Damon Cheronis, said during his opening statement that Sciorra had been unable to provide investigators with the exact date of the alleged rape, indicating only a period during the winter months between 1993 and 1994.
Since 2017, 80 women have come forward to accuse Weinstein of sexual misconduct over the years. He has denied all allegations against him.
