Harvey Weinstein jury deadlocked on key charges

Conviction on those counts could put former movie mogul behind bars for the rest of his life

The jury in Harvey Weinstein‘s criminal trial has indicated it is hung on some of the key charges in the case.

Jurors asked on Friday whether they could be deadlocked on predatory sexual assault counts faced by the former movie mogul.

Conviction on those counts could put the former movie producer behind bars for the rest of his life.

The jury asked if they could be unanimous on the other three counts, which include first-degree rape and criminal sexual assault and could carry a prison term of up to 25 years.

The jury of seven men and five women is deliberating for the fourth day in a row this Friday.

Their question suggests they haven’t been able to reach a consensus on the predatory sexual assault counts, but agree on the three other counts faced by Weinstein.

After consulting with prosecutors and Weinstein’s lawyers, Judge James Burke told the jury to keep working toward a unanimous verdict on all charges and sent them back to continue deliberating.

Weinstein’s lawyers said they would accept a partial verdict, but prosecutors said no and Burke refused to do so.

Burke told the jurors it is not uncommon for juries to have difficulty reaching a unanimous verdict, but that most are eventually able to do so.

“Please resume your deliberations,” he said.

Jurors were expected to end their discussions at 3pm and resume deliberating on Monday.

The jury, in its fourth day of deliberations, has been particularly focused on the key aspect of both predatory sexual assault counts: Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra’s allegations that Weinstein raped and forcibly performed oral sex on her in the mid-1990s.

Jurors started their deliberations on Friday by listening to a reading of Sciorra’s cross-examination and follow-up questioning by prosecutors.

About 90 minutes into the reading, the jurors notified the judge they had “heard enough” and resumed their deliberations.

Weinstein is charged with raping a woman in 2013 and performing a forcible sex act on another woman in 2006. He has pleaded not guilty and has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex.

Additional reporting by agencies