Aspiring filmmaker to bring 'most astonishing allegations' against Harvey Weinstein

Mason Boycott-Owen
·2 min read
Harvey Weinstein departs a Manhattan courthouse during his rape trial in New York - John Minchillo /AP
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An aspiring filmmaker is set to bring the “most astonishing allegations” a British tribunal has ever seen against Harvey Weinstein, judges have been told.

The woman claims that she was sexually assaulted and harassed by Mr Weinstien who she had been employed as an assistant to.

She also accused people and companies around the 68 year old of “knowingly” helping him carry out “unlawful acts of assault and sexual harassment.”

One of Mr Weinstein’s associates, Tim Sarnoff, had previously argued that he should not be included in the proceedings because he lived in the US, and since he had no connection with the UK, the tribunal had “no territorial jurisdiction.”

His accuser, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claims that Mr Sarnoff, who stepped down from The Weinstein Company in 2017, as well as others are liable for “knowingly” helping Mr Weinstein sexually harass her.

Earlier this year he was ordered to submit evidence by a tribunal judge, and yesterday the Court of Appeal upheld the judge’s decision that he should be subject to proceedings.

Jonathan Cohen QC, yesterday told the hearing that the woman at the centre of the case would make "some of the most serious and astonishing allegations a tribunal will ever see" including "horrendous sexual abuse by Mr Weinstein" and sexual harassment of a "truly shocking nature".

The woman’s barrister, Mr Cohen, said she was a “young, aspiring filmmaker” and that "in that employment, she suffered sexual harassment of a truly shocking nature, consistent with that for which Mr Weinstein has been convicted and sentenced in the USA.”

"A critical part of YZ's claim in the employment tribunal is against those in control of the entities employing both her and Mr Weinstein, one of whom is Mr Sarnoff,” he added.

Mr Weinstein was given a 23-year prison sentence at a court hearing in New York in March after being convicted of rape and sexual assault.

Diya Sen Gupta QC, who led Mr Sarnoff’s legal team said his client “strenuously denies” the woman’s claims, adding that he denied them “in fact and in law.”