Danny Masterson, proper, and his spouse, Bijou Phillips, arrive for closing arguments in his second trial, Might 16, 2023, in Los Angeles. A jury discovered “That ’70s Present” star Masterson responsible of two counts of rape Wednesday, Might 31, in a Los Angeles retrial during which the Church of Scientology performed a central function. (AP Picture/Chris Pizzello, File)
The spouse of “That ’70s Present” actor Danny Masterson has filed for divorce days after he was sentenced to 30 years to life in jail for raping two ladies.
Bijou Phillips filed the court docket papers on Monday in Santa Barbara Superior Courtroom, citing “irreconcilable variations,” transferring to finish their divorce after they acquired married in 2011. They’ve a 9-year-old daughter.
“Ms. Phillips has determined to file for divorce from her husband throughout this unlucky time. Her precedence stays together with her daughter,” Peter Lauzon, Phillips’ legal professional, stated. “This era has been unimaginably onerous on the wedding and the household.”
An legal professional for Masterson didn’t instantly reply to an electronic mail from Regulation&Crime in search of remark.
Masterson, 47, was sentenced on Sept. 7 in Los Angeles.
His victims spoke out.
“If you raped me, you stole from me,” stated one lady who Masterson was convicted of raping in 2003, The Related Press reported. “That’s what rape is, a theft of the spirit.”
“You’re pathetic, disturbed and utterly violent,” she stated. “The world is healthier off with you in jail.”
He sat expressionless through the testimony, the AP reported.
His legal professional, Shawn Holley, stated in an announcement that Masterson didn’t commit the crimes for which he was convicted and stated they’re assured the convictions shall be overturned.
“For the previous a number of months, a workforce of the highest appellate attorneys within the nation has been reviewing the transcripts of the trial,” the assertion stated. “They’ve recognized numerous vital evidentiary and constitutional points, which they may deal with in briefs to each state and federal appellate courts. The errors that occurred on this case are substantial and, sadly, led to verdicts that weren’t supported by the proof.
“And although we have now nice respect for the jury on this case and for our system of justice total, typically they get it mistaken. And that’s what occurred right here.”
A jury discovered him responsible on Might 31 of two counts of rape by power or concern.
The jury of seven ladies and 5 males reached the decision after deliberating for seven days over two weeks, the Related Press reported. The jury couldn’t attain a verdict on a 3rd rely that alleged Masterson raped a longtime girlfriend, the wire service reported. Jurors had voted 8-4 in favor of conviction on that cost.
In an announcement, Los Angeles County District Lawyer George Gascón stated his workplace was dissatisfied that the jury didn’t convict on all counts, however he revered the choice.
“The verdicts handed down by the jury on this case have been undoubtedly a tough one to succeed in, and we thank the jurors for his or her service,” the assertion stated. “We additionally acknowledge that stopping sexual assault is crucial, and we are going to proceed to coach the general public on the significance of consent, wholesome relationships, and bystander intervention. We consider that by working collectively, we will create a safer and extra simply society for all.”
Phillips, in court docket then, wept as he was led away after the decision whereas different household and mates sat stone-faced, the AP reported.
“I’m experiencing a posh array of feelings — aid, exhaustion, power, disappointment — realizing that my abuser, Danny Masterson, will face accountability for his prison habits,” one of many ladies, whom Masterson was convicted of raping at his house in 2003, stated in an announcement after his conviction.
Prosecutors retried Masterson on rape costs after a decide had denied a protection movement to dismiss the costs on which jurors deadlocked final November.
Final 12 months, Superior Courtroom Choose Charlaine F. Olmedo declared a mistrial within the high-profile case after jurors failed to succeed in an accord on three separate costs of rape involving three ladies who claimed Masterson raped them in 2001 and 2003 on the actor’s Hollywood Hills house. After a four-week trial, jurors largely voted for acquittal however couldn’t agree.
One other Masterson protection legal professional, Philip Kent Cohen, sensed momentum with the partial victory. They filed a movement to dismiss, arguing that the jury’s ultimate votes – and their earlier unsuccessful efforts to search out unanimity – recommended a repeat trial would have the identical end result.
All three alleged victims stated they met Masterson by the Church of Scientology. The actor himself is a lifelong Scientologist.
Church of Scientology had stated in an announcement on the time of the trial that the prosecution’s introduction of faith into this trial was an unprecedented violation of the First Modification and affected the due course of rights of each American.
“The Church was not a celebration to this case, and faith didn’t belong on this continuing as Supreme Courtroom precedent has maintained for hundreds of years,” the assertion stated. “The District Lawyer unconscionably centered his prosecution on the defendant’s faith and fabrications concerning the Church to introduce prejudice and inflame bigotry. The DA elicited testimony and descriptions of Scientology beliefs and practices which have been uniformly FALSE.”
One of many alleged victims claims that she was drugged and went out and in of consciousness, often waking to search out the defendant bathing after which raping her. At one level, she claims, she awoke to search out herself threatened by a gun Masterson had pulled from a dresser.
One other sufferer claims she was raped within the house she shared with the actor throughout a multi-year relationship. When she resisted and tried to interrupt free, Masterson hit her throughout the face, spit on her, raped her, and known as her “white trash,” she stated.
Within the earlier trial, the protection usually hewed to an argument that jurors did their job and no extra may have been requested of them. The prosecutor had reportedly discovered it “troubling” that jurors stated they didn’t contemplate varied witnesses and types of proof when making their choices.
Regulation&Crime’s Colin Kalmbacher contributed to this report.
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