NEW YORK –
Filmmaker Paul Haggis choked up and wiped away tears whereas ending his defence Friday from the witness stand towards a civil trial rape declare by a publicist.
Haggis, 69, reached for tissues after his lawyer completed questioning him a ultimate time following cross examination that started Thursday and stretched into Friday afternoon.
After three days of testimony, the winner of Oscars for “Crash” and “Million Dollar Baby” was emotional as he described himself as “a really flawed human being.”
He additionally stated he made “Crash,” a 2004 movie about Los Angeles people pressured to confront racial points when their vastly totally different lives cross each other, as a result of he “could not work out methods to be good.”
The comment by Haggis prompted his legal professional, Priya Chaudhry, to ask if his self-criticism was a reference to sexually assaulting anybody.
“Oh, God no!” he answered.
Chaudhry’s questions got here after legal professional Ilann Maazel confronted Haggis with dozens of inconsistencies between his testimony from the witness stand and a video recording of a deposition during which he was requested most of the similar questions.
Maazel represents Haleigh Breest, 36, who testified earlier within the trial that Haggis took her to his Manhattan house for a drink after a January 2013 screening afterparty. She stated he pushed her on a mattress, pulled her garments off, aggressively demanded oral intercourse and — after she took a bathe — raped her. She is searching for unspecified damages.
The Associated Press typically doesn’t identify individuals who say they’ve been sexually assaulted except they arrive ahead publicly, as Breest has performed.
In one occasion of an inconsistency in testimony, Maazel tried to indicate that Haggis had admitted to over 25 affairs whereas he was married somewhat than 20 affairs.
He additionally elicited testimony about bodily violence between Haggis and an ex-wife, with Maazel saying Haggis as soon as hit her so exhausting that she had bruising.
“She had a black eye,” Haggis responded. Haggis additionally stated he was the sufferer of “a really fiery particular person” who hit and punched him through the years.
The trial resumes Monday. Jurors had been advised that closing arguments are seemingly on Wednesday, once they would most likely start deliberations.
Resources for sexual assault survivors in Canada
If you or somebody is scuffling with sexual assault or trauma, the next assets can be found to assist folks in disaster:
If you might be in rapid hazard or worry to your security, you must name 911.
A full listing of sexual assault centres in Canada that provide data, advocacy and counselling may be discovered at ReeseCommunity.com. Resources in your neighborhood may be discovered by coming into your postal code.
Helplines, authorized providers and areas that provide sexual assault kits in Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia may be discovered right here.
National Residential School Crisis Line: +1 866 925 4419
24-hour disaster line: 416 597 8808
Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: +1 833 900 1010
Trans Lifeline: +1 877 330 6366
Sexual misconduct assist for present or former members of the Armed Forces: +1 844 750 1648
Read about your rights as a sufferer right here.