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Weinstein caught on film caressing woman

"Incredibly prejudicial" testimony harmed Harvey Weinstein's chances of a fair trial, a judge says.

"Incredibly prejudicial" testimony harmed Harvey Weinstein's chances of a fair trial, a judge says. Photo: AAP

A video which shows disgraced Hollywood movie producer Harvey Weinstein caressing and propositioning a woman who has accused him of rape has been aired on television in the United States.

Melissa Thompson, who began civil legal action against Weinstein in June, recorded the encounter on her laptop while demonstrating video technology to Weinstein in his New York City office in 2011.

The film, aired on Sky News, shows Weinstein rejected a handshake from Thompson before hugging her and rubbing her back.

He then caresses her shoulder as they sit side-by-side in front of her laptop in what was supposed to be a business presentation.

At one point he tells her: “Let me have a little part of you. Can you give it to me?”

After quickly agreeing to use the technology to promote his movies, Thompson said Weinstein put his hand up her dress.

The video, which only captures the two from the waist up, doesn’t show Weinstein’s hands at that point, but does show Thompson reacting with discomfort and telling Weinstein: “That’s too high. That’s too high.”

It also shows her joking about his advances, saying that “data is hot”.

Sky News aired portions of the video and Thompson’s lawyers declined to share it with The Associated Press.

Weinstein’s lawyer said the full video “demonstrates that there is nothing forceful” and shows “casual, if not awkward, flirting from both parties.”

“Anything short of that is intended to make Mr. Weinstein appear inappropriate and even exploitative,” lawyer Ben Brafman said.

“It was produced by Ms. Thompson to bolster her position in a civil lawsuit seeking money. This is a further attempt to publicly disgrace Mr. Weinstein for financial gain and we will not stand for it. Facts do matter.”

Thompson told Sky News Weinstein’s behaviour had been distracting as she tried to pitch the product.

She said she later met Weinstein at a hotel bar to close the deal but she said Weinstein led her to a hotel room and raped her.

Weinstein has been charged in New York with sexually assaulting three women. Thompson is not among them.

Thompson rejected suggestions she had encouraged Weinstein.

She told Sky News she had wanted the meeting to be professional and and had pushed back on his advances.

“I never met anyone that I couldn’t handle until Harvey Weinstein,” she said.

 

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