American actor Danny Masterson with wife Bija Phillips, May 16, 2023, Los Angeles.
Los Angeles – American actor Danny Masterson of the movie Yes Man (2008) or the TV series The Golden Seventies (1998) is guilty of two counts of rape, a jury of seven decided on Wednesday women and five men in Los Angeles. Masterson was accused of rape by three members of the Church of Scientology, according to the jury, the actor abused his influential position in the church and raped two of these women. Masterson faces 30 years behind bars, the BBC website reported.
Advertisement'; }
“I experience complex emotions – relief, exhaustion, strength and sadness – knowing that my abuser will be held accountable for his criminal actions,” the AP quoted one of the women accused of raping Masterson in 2003 as saying. .
Forty-seven-year-old Masterson left court in handcuffs as his wife, Bijou Phillips, wept and his family and friends sat with stony faces, CBS described the atmosphere in the courtroom.
” “While we are disappointed that the jury did not find the suspect guilty on all counts, we respect their decision. I also want to express our gratitude to the three women who bravely came forward and shared their experiences. Their courage and strength was an inspiration to us all,” the district attorney said in a statement for Los Angeles George Gascón.
Scientology played a significant role during the hearing, according to CBS. Judge Charlaine Olmed called in experts on church issues to testify, and according to the media, there was considerable tension in the courtroom between current and former members of Scientology.
