Mel Gibson

2022 - 10 - 15

Post cover — Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Mel Gibson can testify in Harvey Weinstein's Los Angeles trial, judge ... (The Guardian)

Actor and director was one of many witnesses whose identities were revealed in Los Angeles superior court.

The judge and attorneys will return to jury selection on Monday. Prosecutors said that when Gibson brought up Weinstein’s name, the woman had a traumatic response and Gibson understood she had been sexually assaulted. The judge and attorneys had taken a break from jury selection for motions on what evidence will be allowed and who can testify. The judge denied their motion. Weinstein, whose films once dominated the Oscars, shook his head at the defense table. The witness list is sealed.

Mel Gibson can testify at Harvey Weinstein trial, judge says (Page Six)

Mel Gibson is allowed to testify on behalf of an unnamed accuser in the Los Angeles rape and sexual assault trial of Harvey Weinstein, a judge ruled.

The state’s highest court has agreed to [hear his appeal in that case.](https://pagesix.com/2022/08/24/new-york-court-grants-harvey-weinstein-right-to-appeal/) The judge and attorneys will return to the jury selection process on Monday morning, and opening statements are expected to begin on Oct. Prosecutors said that when Gibson brought up Weinstein’s name by chance, the woman had a traumatic response and Gibson understood from her that she had been sexually assaulted. A “fresh complaint” under California law allows the introduction of evidence of sexual assault or another crime if the victim reported it to someone else voluntarily and relatively promptly after it happened. The judge and attorneys had taken a break from jury selection for motions on what evidence will be allowed at the trial, and who can testify. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty, and denied any non-consensual sexual activity.

Mel Gibson can testify in Harvey Weinstein assault trial, judge rules (EW.com)

Mel Gibson can be called to testify in Harvey Weinstein's Los Angeles rape and sexual assault trial, a judge ruled on Friday.

He was [granted a chance to appeal the conviction](https://ew.com/celebrity/harvey-weinstein-granted-chance-to-appeal-2020-rape-conviction/) in August. [he was convicted of rape and sexual assault](https://ew.com/movies/harvey-weinstein-sentencing/) in 2020. A judge of Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County, accepted the plea and sentenced Gibson to 36 months of probation. Weinstein's lawyers also suggested that Gibson was attempting to rectify his tarnished image by testifying against their client and positioning himself as an ally of the greater #MeToo movement. Gibson pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of battering Grigorieva in 2011, under a deal that would allow him to avoid jail and deny liability for the incident in any civil litigation. Weinstein's lawyers objected to Gibson being allowed to take the stand, citing that Gibson obtained information about the incident while getting his own massage and, as such, it was not a "fresh complaint."

Mel Gibson Can Testify in Support of Accuser at Harvey Weinstein ... (PEOPLE.com)

Mel Gibson will be permitted to testify in support of his masseuse and friend at the upcoming rape and sexual assault trial of Harvey Weinstein, ...

[23-year sentence](https://people.com/crime/harvey-weinstein-victims-speak-out-before-sentencing/) for a 2020 conviction for rape and sexual assault in New York, was granted an appeal this August in the New York State of Appeals. It was based on allegations made by two women of events that took place in 2006 and 2013, although more than 80 women in total have claimed they were victimized by Weinstein over the years. However, the prosecution argued that Gibson wanting to get into a business deal around the time of his alleged conversation with the accuser would suggest otherwise. The judge disagreed, saying that she would allow Gibson to testify if other witnesses will have testified in the manner that prosecutors say they expect. While the witness list for the trial is sealed, the AP reports that Gibson is the best-known name to perhaps be called to appear in the Los Angeles Superior Court. 3 in the Los Angeles trial, per the

Mel Gibson Can Testify Against Harvey Weinstein at Upcoming L.A. ... (Entertainment Tonight)

Prosecutors want to call Gibson to the witness stand in the disgraced movie mogul's sexual assault trial.

[Winona Ryder](https://www.etonline.com/people/winona-ryder). The case resumes Monday for the discussion of jury panel dismissals. Werksman said the feud stemmed from Weinstein's publishing company, Miramax Books, releasing a book purportedly debunking the the film's anti-Semitic overtones and false depiction of Jews. case on Friday narrowed down the list of potential jurors to 160. The judge agreed, and will allow the second witness to testify but only to establish a timeframe. The attorney added, "[Gibson] has a white-supremacist view. Gibson vehemently denied in June 2020 about making anti-Semitic statements to Ryder, telling ET it's " [100 percent untrue](https://www.etonline.com/mel-gibson-claims-winona-ryder-lied-about-his-alleged-anti-gay-and-anti-semitic-remarks-148626)." That being said, Martinez said Gibson doesn't recall the timing of that conversation and, as such, also wants to call another witness whom Martinez says remembers speaking to Gibson and Jane Doe 3 about the alleged incident in 2015. Lench ruled that prosecutors can call the actor to the witness stand to corroborate allegations made by Jane Doe 3, who claims Weinstein sexually assaulted her after giving him a massage back in 2010. Someone with white-supremacist values might have no problem perjuring himself against a Jewish defendant." Deputy District Attorney Marlene Martinez told the judge that Jane Doe 3 told Gibson about the alleged sexual assault while she was giving the Lethal Weapon star a massage. [Mel Gibson](https://www.etonline.com/people/mel-gibson) can be called to testify against [Harvey Weinstein](https://www.etonline.com/people/harvey-weinstein) in the disgraced movie mogul's rape and sexual assault trial.

Mel Gibson to testify against Harvey Weinstein in LA rape trial (The Tribune)

Actor Mel Gibson can be called to testify against Harvey Weinstein at the producer's upcoming Los Angeles rape trial, a judge ruled on Friday.

He cited three interviews with LAPD Detective Javier Vargas and Deputy District Attorney Lowrie Mendoza in which she is quoted as saying multiple times that she was forced to "suck his balls, put his testicles in her mouth." The "vague statement" is not a fresh complaint, Jackson argued: "None of those have the specificity to rise to a fresh complaint. Although Lench agreed with Deputy District Attorney Paul Thompson that the line of questioning could perpetuate a rape myth. "I will allow you to question him about whether or not there is personal animosity between the two of them." Jackson later argued that the prosecution claim that Jane Doe 1 "did not say anything about his scrotum or testicles in her first two interviews" was factually untrue. Weinstein is facing 11 sexual assault charges for alleged attacks against five women between 2004 to 2013. Gibson was talking about Weinstein in the context of a business deal. But the defense will be allowed to ask whether Gibson holds a grudge against Weinstein. She also denied a defense request that they be allowed to ask Gibson about racist and anti-semitic statements he has made over the years. Lench allowed prosecutors to call Gibson to the stand. I think it's a waste of time. He has a white-supremacist view," Werksman responded.