As a long-time fan of Danny Masterson and his work, I find myself deeply saddened and disheartened by the recent turn of events in his life. Having grown up watching him as the lovable and humorous character on “That ’70s Show,” it’s difficult to reconcile the man I admired with the allegations against him.
Danny Masterson is attempting to reverse the judgment from his 2023 jury case, where he was found guilty on two counts of rape under threat or coercion and given a 30-year prison sentence. The actor argues that significant errors led to an unjust trial, with inconsistent testimonies from the three accusers and alleging it was a strategic move targeting the Church of Scientology.
Last Thursday, legal representatives for the former star of “That ’70s Show” submitted a 242-page appeal brief aiming to reverse Masterson’s conviction verdict. This action follows a widely publicized jury trial that lasted several weeks and ended in September 2023. The defense attorneys, Cliff Gardner and Lazuli Whitt, claim in their filing that the jury’s interpretation of the evidence was biased due to the women’s accounts of the assaults, the omission of crucial exonerating evidence by the court, and the judge’s decisions during the trial.
Indeed, it’s important to note that a defendant doesn’t have the right to a flawless trial; they do, however, deserve a just one. Unfortunately, Danny Masterson did not receive a fair trial. A reversal should be granted.” (Gardner and Whitt wrote in their filing)
For a number of years, Masterson, a high-ranking member of the Church of Scientology, has been alleged by three different women of sexual assault during incidents spanning over two decades. These accusers, who were once part of the church and are now on trial, recounted their ordeals to the court, stating that they felt disoriented after Masterson gave them a drink. They chose to speak up about these allegations decades later because Scientology discourages followers from reporting crimes committed by fellow members to law enforcement. The plaintiffs also mentioned that they had experienced intimidation from the church since their departures.
After the recent guilty verdict, the Church of Scientology responded by saying: “Since we were not involved in this trial, religion should not have been a factor. This principle has been upheld in court cases for hundreds of years.
In the submitted documents, Whitt and Gardner bring up the hung jury during the initial trial against Masterson regarding these accusations back in 2022. Following the declaration of a mistrial, it was discovered that two jurors remained uncertain, with their verdict being ‘guilty’, while the other ten voted ‘not guilty’.
In their submission, the lawyers argue that no tangible proof exists to back up the state’s argument regarding the alleged rape, implying that it boils down to a battle of credibility between the parties involved.
Consequently, the issue at hand revolves around the testimony of a renowned individual against three unidentified women, whose names have been concealed during the trial.
As a devoted fan, I must express my dismay upon learning about the allegations against Masterson. Despite his assertions of innocence, it’s been claimed that he had interactions with several individuals during the specified periods, interactions that are starkly contrasted by their accounts. For instance, N. Trout reported to authorities an incident where Masterson allegedly raped her so brutally that she became nauseous. Similarly, Jane Doe #1 described an ordeal in which Masterson, armed with a gun, raped her while suffocating her with a pillowcase. These accounts are vastly different from Masterson’s assertions that these encounters were consensual.
Following his 30-years-to-life prison sentence, Masterson was initially transferred to Corcoran State Prison, however, he is currently serving his time at the less secure California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-12-20 02:24