Crime
That 70’s Show Actor Danny Masterson Sentenced To 30 Years To Life In Prison For Raping 2 Women
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US actor Danny Masterson has been sentenced to serve 30 years to life in prison for raping two women, the media reported. Masterson starred on ‘That 70’s Show’, a TV series that was airing at the time of his crimes in the early 2000s. Prosecutors argued Masterson, 47, had relied on his status as a prominent Scientologist to avoid accountability.
Judge Charlaine Olmedo allowed the victims of his crimes to read impact statements in court ahead of his sentencing. Prominent former Scientologist and actress Leah Remini attended Thursday’s sentencing hearing and comforted the women before and after they delivered their statements. “I wished I had reported him earlier to the police,” one of the women said, according to US media.
Another woman told Masterson: “I forgive you. Your sickness is no longer mine to bear,” according to Reuters.
Masterson remained silent throughout the hearing. As the judge read his sentence — the maximum penalty allowed — his wife, Bijou Phillips, was seen in court breaking down in tears.
Masterson was found guilty in May at a re-trial after the first jury was unable to reach a verdict in 2022. After his conviction, Masterson was deemed a flight risk and was taken into prison custody. The actor was convicted after three women testified that he had sexually assaulted them at his Hollywood home from 2001-03 — during the height of his television fame.
The jury heard testimony that he had given them drugs before he assaulted them. He was found guilty of rape against two of his three accusers. The charges brought by the third accuser were declared a mistrial and prosecutors said they do not plan to retry the case.
Alison Anderson, a lawyer representing two of the victims, said in a statement sent that the women “have displayed tremendous strength and bravery, by coming forward to law enforcement and participating directly in two gruelling criminal trials”.
“Despite persistent harassment, obstruction, and intimidation, these courageous women helped hold a ruthless sexual predator accountable today,”
Masterson was first accused of rape in 2017 during the height of the #MeToo movement. He denied the accusations and said each of the encounters was consensual. Charges came after a three-year investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.
Prosecutors did not file charges in two other cases because of insufficient evidence and the statute of limitations expiring. Throughout the trial, prosecutors argued that the Church of Scientology had helped cover up the assaults — an allegation the organisation has categorically denied.
At the time of the assaults, Masterson and all three of his accusers were Scientologists. Several of the women said it took them years to come forward because Church of Scientology officials discouraged them from reporting the rape to police. Scientology officials told one survivor she would be kicked out of the Church of Scientology unless she signed a non-disclosure agreement and accepted a payment of $400,000 (£320,000), according to prosecutors.
she said, adding that the women will continue to speak out about the role the church allegedly played during their abuse.
In court on Thursday, one woman described being shunned by her mother, who is still a practicing Scientologist. “She texted me and told me to never contact her again,” she said. “She had warned me ahead of time she wanted to see Danny Masterson locked away for what he’d done to me, but not at the expense of her religion.”
Another woman said she had been victimised by the church ever since she first spoke out. “Since the week I came forward to police I have been terrorised, harassed and had my privacy invaded daily by the cult of Scientology for almost seven years now,” she said, adding: “But I don’t regret it.”
During the trial, Judge Olmedo allowed both sides to discuss the dogma and practices of Scientology, angering the organisation. In its statement after the verdict in May, the Church of Scientology said there was “not a scintilla of evidence supporting the scandalous allegations that the Church harassed the accusers”.
Thursday’s sentencing was also attended by Jessica Barth, who founded “Voices in Action” in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Barth was one of the women to publicly accuse disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of abuse. Her non-profit works to encourage others to come forward and report abuse. Before the hearing, a motion for a new trial by Masterson’s defence team was denied by the judge, according to an Los Angeles court official.
Crime
Mumbai Police Arrest Nalasopara-Based Auto Driver For Molesting 15-Year-Old Girl In Borivali
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Mumbai: Mumbai Police have arrested an auto driver from Nalasopara (East) in connection with the molestation of a student in Borivali. Naresh Moti Singh (44), a resident of Gorai, had been absconding.
About The Incident
The incident occurred on August 31 when the accused allegedly molested the 15-year-old girl while she was on her way to school. The rickshaw driver abruptly halted the vehicle and tried to touch the girl. She immediately objected and screamed loudly. Neighbors, alerted by her cries, rushed to the scene, but the driver had already escaped.
The police then filed a case against the unidentified driver under the relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Crime
Nagpur: Bar Brawl Captured on CCTV as Men Attack Bartender, Customers Flee in Panic
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In a deeply unsettling incident that has sent shockwaves through the local community, the Yoga Bar Restaurant in the Kadri area of Nagpur was violently attacked by armed individuals on [insert date]. The restaurant, located within the jurisdiction of Kanhan Police Station, witnessed a horrifying scene as the attackers caused significant damage and terrorized both staff and patrons.
The Attack
The violent unfolded in broad daylight, with CCTV footage capturing the full extent of the assault. According to the footage, a group of armed assailants, wielding swords and sticks, stormed the Yoga Bar Restaurant. Their brazen attack included smashing furniture, shattering glassware, and creating an atmosphere of intense fear. The bar owner was reportedly targeted with threats and intimidation, further escalating the chaos.
The footage reveals the attackers moving through the restaurant with alarming aggression, creating a scene of mayhem that left patrons scrambling for safety. The violent nature of the assault has raised concerns about the increasing frequency of such incidents in the region.
Response and Investigation
Local law enforcement, led by the Kanhan Police Station, responded swiftly to the incident. Officers have secured the crime scene and are analyzing the CCTV footage to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. The investigation is underway, focusing on uncovering the motive behind the attack and bringing those responsible to justice.
Authorities have appealed to the public for any additional information that might assist in their investigation. They are also conducting interviews with witnesses and restaurant staff to piece together the events leading up to and following the attack.
Crime
Mumbai: 26-Year-Old Student Charged With Attempted Murder 2 Years After Allegedly Pushing Girlfriend Off 18-Foot-High Water Tank In Borivali
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Mumbai: A sessions court has framed charges against 26-year-old student Amey Darekar almost two years after he was arrested for allegedly pushing his girlfriend off the water tank of a Dahisar high-rise. The court said there is sufficient evidence to charge him with an attempt to murder.
Darekar had last year sought discharge from the case claiming that he had not pushed the girl and that he has been implicated on the basis of assumption. On Monday, he decided to not proceed with the discharge plea after a year of filing and chose to face trial.
The court framed the charges observing that after considering the record and documents and after hearing the submissions of the parties, there was sufficient ground for presuming that the accused had committed offence of attempting to murder.
About The Incident
As per the prosecution case, Munish Singh, father of Darekar’s girlfriend, Priyangi, had lodged a complaint that Priyangi and Darekar met on November 13, 2022, between 4.30 pm and 8 pm on the roof of La Belleza Cooperative at Borivali (East) and consumed alcohol. The two later had a quarrel and Darekar allegedly assaulted Priyangi and pushed her off the 18-foot-high water tank. Priyangi sustained multiple injuries as a result of the fall. Darekar’s mother later took her to hospital. Though Priyangi in her statement ruled out any involvement of Darekar, her father lodged a complaint of attempt to murder.
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