After a day of intense testimony at Harvey Weinstein's rape trial, prosecutors are expected to shift gears Thursday with a slate of ancillary witnesses.
Two aspiring actresses testified Wednesday that Weinstein preyed on their vulnerabilities while pushing the notion that sex could lead to film roles.
Tarale Wulff choked back tears as she testified Weinstein raped her at his New York City apartment in 2005 during what was supposed to be a film audition. Wulff also alleges that before the alleged rape, Weinstein masturbated in front of her.
On Wednesday, actress Dawn Dunning testified that in 2004, Weinstein touched her genitals in a 2004 meeting at her hotel suite. She also testified in another meeting that Weinstein offered to give her movie roles in exchange for sex, something that he allegedly claimed happened "all the time."
On Thursday, a casting director is expected to testify and back up Wulff's claims. The manager of a bar where Wulff worked and met with Weinstein is also supposed to back up her claims on Thursday.
Weinstein is charged with forcibly performing oral sex on Mimi Haleyi, a former production assistant on Project Runway. On Monday, she testified that she repeatedly rejected Weinstein, but he continued anyway.
Weinstein is also charged with raping a woman in 2013. Following this trial in New York, Weinstein will face two charges of sexual assault in Los Angeles.
Weinstein has insisted any sexual encounters were consensual.
