Danny Masterson Rape Retrial Rests With Defense Calling No Witnesses; Scientology Lawyer Controversy Erupts
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Three weeks after opening statements began, Danny Masterson’s rape retrial rested today. Yet, with the former That 70’s Show actor once again facing a trio of sexual assault charges and potentially years behind bars, the Church of Scientology is back in the courtroom spotlight.
After the prosecution ended its case early Friday and the defense called no witnesses, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo said closing arguments would start Tuesday. That could see the jury deliberating behind closed doors by Wednesday and a verdict in the following days.
However, partially overshadowing those deliberations might be a very serious sharing of information.
Somehow a lawyer representing the David Miscavige-led church, which is not a defendant in this criminal case, has come into possession of a large swath of the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office’s discovery material in this matter. Going off like a legal landmine, the revelation might see the prosecution referring the leak of sorts to the LAPD and perhaps even the state bar.
This all came to light two days ago when Deputy DA Reinhold Mueller told the court that the George Gascón-led office had received an email on May 2 from attorney Vicki Podberesky criticizing the way the church had been referenced in the retrial that began April 27. Stunningly, attached to that email, which had the subject line of “False reports of stalking and harassment by the Church of Scientology,” were 12 files containing the discovery material.
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