Danny Masterson has filed an enchantment towards his 2023 rape conviction, questioning the plaintiffs’ credibility and claiming he didn’t obtain a good trial.
In a 244-page temporary submitted to the California state court docket of enchantment on Wednesday, Masterson’s legal professionals Cliff Gardner and Lazuli Whitt stated: “It’s true, in fact, {that a} defendant isn’t entitled to an ideal trial. He’s, nevertheless, nonetheless entitled to a good one … Danny Masterson obtained neither. Reversal is required.”
In Might 2023 Masterson, greatest recognized for his position on That ’70s Present, was convicted of two counts of rape towards two girls in 2003, whereas a 3rd cost referring to a 3rd plaintiff was quashed. He was sentenced to 30 years in jail.
Throughout that trial, prosecutors argued that the distinguished Scientologist used his position within the church – of which all three plaintiffs had been additionally members on the time – to keep away from accountability for the assaults.
Masterson has constantly insisted he’s not responsible, and that intercourse with all three plaintiffs was consensual.
The church stated in an announcement after the decision that the “testimony and descriptions of Scientology beliefs” through the trial had been “uniformly false”.
“The church has no coverage prohibiting or discouraging members from reporting felony conduct of anybody – Scientologists or not – to legislation enforcement,” the assertion stated.
Gardner and Whitt declare that Masterson’s rights had been violated by the inclusion of Scientology doctrine as a part of the trial, and accuse the plaintiffs of giving “falsified” proof.
Additionally they argue that the court docket violated Masterson’s proper to a good trial by excluding proof which they are saying proves that the plaintiffs, referred to in paperwork as JB and NT, had “a direct monetary curiosity within the final result of the trial”, because it affected a pending civil lawsuit towards Masterson and the Church of Scientology through which they’re looking for damages.
In 2019, JB, NT and members of their respective households filed a civil swimsuit alleging Masterson and the church harassed them after the ladies went to police with their sexual assault claims in 2017. That civil swimsuit referred to the incidents involving Masterson that turned the topic of his 2023 felony trial and conviction, however didn’t allege rape or search damages, because the civil statute of limitations had expired.
Masterson’s legal professionals say the 2023 trial court docket “excluded proof exhibiting that if the complaining witnesses obtained forcible rape convictions towards Mr Masterson, state legislation would offer a brand new, one-year window inside which they might file rape-based causes of motion” in a civil swimsuit, thus “entitling them to a dramatically higher injury award than the prevailing lawsuit for harassment damages”.
“And predictably, inside one yr of the felony verdict, each JB and NT moved to amend their pending lawsuit to do exactly that,” the legal professionals added.
“The trial court docket’s ruling is irreconcilable with greater than a century of California legislation recognising the common sense precept {that a} witness’ monetary stake within the final result of trial is plainly related to credibility.”
The civil case towards Masterson and the Church of Scientology is about to go to trial in Los Angeles superior court docket in 2025.
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