After the panel was dismissed for the day, Assistant DA Joan Illuzzi-Orbon argued that the jury should be allowed to hear from Perez to refute the defense’s claim that her friend Sciorra had made up the allegation that Weinstein raped her in the winter of 1993–1994.
“Miss Perez will testify that in fact Annabella Sciorra told her what Harvey Weinstein did to her, about that rape in 1994,” the prosecutor said in Manhattan Supreme Court.
Perez called Sciorra weeks after the alleged attack inside her Gramercy apartment.
“Miss Sciorra says something to the effect, ‘I think something bad happened to me. I think I was raped,’” said Illuzzi-Orbon, adding that Sciorra didn’t disclose Weinstein’s name at the time.
Later in 1994, Sciorra was in London to film “The Innocent Sleep” when Weinstein allegedly stalked her at her hotel.
During Sciorra’s five hours on the stand Thursday afternoon, she testified that Weinstein showed up outside her hotel room and started banging on the door demanding that she let him in.
She didn’t. But Perez heard about the incident and allegedly called to check in on her friend.
“I don’t want him to get me again,” she told Perez, according to Illuzzi-Orbon.
“Oh my God, Harvey Weinstein was the person who raped you!” Perez allegedly responded, per the prosecutor.
Defense lawyer Damon Cheronis argued that Perez should be barred from taking the stand.
Justice James Burke said he’d rule on the motion soon.
Perez’s wasn’t the only famous name that came up Thursday. Sciorra testified that she felt bad Weinstein had insisted she play a part in a film that had been written for pal Sara Jessica Parker and future husband Matthew Broderick.