Harvey Weinstein's rape trial in Los Angeles may see an unexpected witness. Variety reports that on Friday in a motions hearing, Judge Lisa B. Lench gave prosecutors the OK for Mel Gibson to be called to testify against the disgraced movie producer, in support of accusations made by "Jane Doe No. 3." That accuser alleges that in 2010, Weinstein sexually assaulted her after she gave him a massage in his hotel room. Deputy District Attorney Marlene Martinez says that the woman subsequently told Gibson about the alleged assault during a massage session with him.
Per court documents cited by Deadline, Gibson was receiving his massage on May 18, 2021, when the woman started to cry after he mentioned the name "Harvey." The woman stopped the massage and insinuated that Weinstein had "sexually assaulted or groped her," Mark Werksman, Weinstein's attorney, said in court on Friday, per Variety. But Weinstein's legal team says this may all be a way for Gibson to hit back at Weinstein, claiming the 66-year-old Lethal Weapon actor has held a grudge against Weinstein ever since the latter criticized Gibson's 2004 film The Passion of the Christ.
Lench denied Werksman's request that he be allowed to question Gibson over antisemitic and racist remarks he's made in the past, though she did grant the defense the right to ask Gibson if he holds any ill will toward Weinstein himself. Weinstein, who's already serving a 23-year sentence in New York after being convicted of rape and sexual assault charges, is facing nearly a dozen more such charges based on allegations by five women in his LA trial. He could receive up to 140 years behind bars if convicted. Whether Gibson is actually called to be a witness, now that the move has Lench's thumbs-up, remains to be seen. (More Mel Gibson stories.)
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