A dancer in a movie produced by Harvey Weinstein testified Thursday that she was "freaked out" after assembly the film mogul on the Puerto Rican set however the presence and reassurance of his assistant satisfied her it was OK to go together with him to his resort, the place she was later sexually assaulted.
The girl, who glided by her first title and final preliminary Ashley M. on the Los Angeles trial the place Weinstein is charged with rape and sexual assault, mentioned she was a 22-year-old in 2003 when she was appearing as a dancing double for one of many stars of "Soiled Dancing: Havana Nights," a movie produced by Weinstein's firm Miramax.
She mentioned Weinstein's assistant on the time, Bonnie Hung, informed her that she would stay with the 2 of them all the time, and that he simply needed to speak about future initiatives.
As they walked down the corridor of Weinstein's resort towards a door, she mentioned, "I began to get extra apprehensive, however Bonnie was there together with her clipboard."
"Harvey opened it after which he went in and I went in," she mentioned, pausing as she started to cry. "After which Bonnie shut the door behind us. I used to be like, 'oh no, what do I do?'"
She mentioned Weinstein rapidly grew to become aggressive, pushing her on to the mattress and taking her high off earlier than straddling her and masturbating whereas on high of her, regardless of her telling him to cease.
The girl was the second Weinstein accuser to take the stand on the trial, and the primary of 4 who will not be concerned within the prices in opposition to him however are being allowed to testify to point out a propensity for such acts by Weinstein.
Decide Lisa B. Lench informed jurors earlier than the girl's testimony that they'd obtain directions afterward the best way to take into account it.
Weinstein, already serving a 23-year sentence for a New York conviction that's below attraction, has pleaded not responsible in Los Angeles to 4 counts of rape and 7 different counts of sexual assault. He has repeatedly denied partaking in any non-consensual intercourse.
Ashley M. appeared rattled as she walked to the stand late within the day Thursday, and commenced crying earlier than any questions had been requested.
"I am sorry," she mentioned repeatedly to Decide Lisa Lench, who replied that she had nothing to be sorry for and known as for a brief break.
She gathered herself and commenced her testimony, saying she had been knowledgeable ballet dancer who had simply shifted to dancing in Hollywood.
She mentioned that Weinstein appeared on the set whereas they had been filming in a ballroom, and requested her to step outdoors.
Ashley M. mentioned Weinstein talked about her giving him a unadorned therapeutic massage, and she or he tried to assuage him by saying she was engaged, and that she was wanted on the set.
She mentioned Weinstein informed her he was the boss and received to determine who wanted to be on set.
The girl known as her mom and her then-fiance, who informed her to hunt assist from others on the set.
Then somebody mentioned it was time for a meal break.
"I believed, 'whew, saved by the bell,'" she testified.
In the course of the break, she requested the movie's choreographer and a producer what to do, however received the sense that they did not need to upset Weinstein.
"Did both of them provide you with any form of assist?" Deputy District Lawyer Marlene Martinez requested.
"No," Ashley M. mentioned.
"How did you are feeling then?" Martinez requested.
"Freaked out," the witness answered.
Ashley M. mentioned when the returned to the set Weinstein was ready there with a limo, and Hung.
"I felt higher simply realizing I wasn't alone," she mentioned.
The Related Press doesn't sometimes title individuals who say they've been sexually abused until they've come ahead publicly.
Ashley M. informed her story to the New York Instances in October of 2017, when the newspaper's accounts of ladies who say Weinstein sexually assaulted them put the film govt on the middle of the #MeToo motion.
Thursday was the primary time she has informed her story in a courtroom.
Ashley M. is predicted to return to the witness stand for extra questioning from prosecutors Friday, adopted by cross-examination from Weinstein's protection.