Harvey Weinstein Sentenced to 23 Years

Wednesday, in a courthouse in New York, Harvey Weinstein was convicted to 23 years imprisonment, resulting in a trial that sparked the international outcry of the #MeToo campaign and empowering women to speak out against sexual harassment.

During his conviction, Weinstein, 67, appeared at his hearing in a wheelchair and in handcuffs. He was faced with first-degree sexual assault and third-degree rape sentences spanning from five years to 29 years in prison for his conviction last month.

The intervention from Weinstein was surprising at court.

As said by Michelle Simpson Tuegel a lawyer who works on criminal prosecution, convicted persons who intend to appeal a guilty conviction, or who face other allegations, usually do not speak during a hearing since what they may say could be used against them.

Weinstein said however that he was concerned over this nation as well as the rights of the people to legal process. He even told the judge during the trial that he tried to bear witness, but his lawyers warned him that his case would have been harmed.

For about 20 minutes without warning, Weinstein, who did not testify during the trial, spoke continuously even as his Defense Attorney Arthur Aidala regularly and calmly demanded him to stop.

He stated that he actually thought that there was agreement and consent about the women who spoke out against him.

Weinstein's lawyers at some point called for a break and checked on him, he said that he had lost his train of thoughts, when he had begun to speak again.

Judge James Burke convicted him of felony sexual misconduct for 20 years and of rape for three years. The terms are placed sequentially and both came with supervision for five years after his release.

Not only this, but Weinstein will also be registered as a sex offender.

Burke had said that, "This is a first conviction, but it is not a first offense."

When he was led out of the courthouse, Weinstein was sporting a blank face. In the front row, his accusers cried together.

The allegations were based on testimony of the conviction of both Miriam Haley and Jessica Mann. Haley claimed that Weinstein secretly conducted oral sex with her in his flat in Manhattan in 2006, and Mann testified that she was raped during an abusive relationship with the defendant in 2013.

In a sentence note, Weinstein's defense lawyers said that a lower penalty would be due to personal welfare, advanced age, the medical condition and lack of a criminal background of their client.

Before the New Yorker post, they claimed that his life "has been destroyed".

Moreover, Weinstein is also charged with a crime in Los Angeles for forcible rape, forced oral copulation, sexual force violation and restraint.

Prosecutors state that in February 2013, a woman was raped and another sexually assaulted for two days in separate incidents.

Since his conviction, he has been in custody of the state and had a few health issues.

Last week, he was exposed to a cardiac operation during which doctors implanted a stent and his publicist, Juda Engelmayer said he fell whilst he was at the prison.

The District Attorney's office at Los Angeles County has began the process of detaining him in California on these allegations. No adjudication was set.