A judge in Los Angeles determined Wednesday that Daryl Hannah will not be called to testify against notorious movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.
In Weinstein’s sex assault case, which is set to be tried later this year, the actress was on a list of 16 potential witnesses the prosecution sought to summon.
Judge Lisa Lench lowered the number of new ‘victims’ she will accept to six after hearing the former Hollywood big shot’s attorney’s vehement complaints. She named four of them – Natassia, Kelly S, Miss I, and Miriam H – and told the prosecution that two more may be chosen.
But Hannah, who claimed Weinstein had banged on her hotel door, forcing her to leave through a window, and McGowan will not be among those called, Variety reported.
Calling 16 more women – none of whom has proven their cases in court – is a ‘cynical ploy to overwhelm the court,’ said Weinstein’s lawyer, Mark Werksman who accused prosecutors of trying to portray the 69 year-old as an ‘all-purpose, all weather, 24-7 rapist.’
He called the large number of extra alleged victims – whose stories of assault by Weinstein span a 45 years period and places ranging from New York to Canada to France – ‘mind-numbing, preposterous and ridiculously prejudicial.’