All articles tagged with #rape
A New York judge declared a mistrial in Harvey Weinstein's third rape trial after jurors deadlocked 9-3 in favor of acquittal; prosecutors now have 30 days to decide whether to retry Jessica Mann’s rape charge, while Weinstein, in frail health, awaits further action in a sprawling legal saga across New York and California.
Barrie Drewitt-Barlow and his husband Scott have appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court charged with rape, multiple counts of sexual assault and modern slavery trafficking linked to grooming young men; offences are alleged to have occurred between 2013 and 2026. The couple, who took over Maldon & Tiptree FC in 2025 and oversaw the club’s promotion to the seventh tier, were remanded in custody and will appear at Crown Court on 5 June. Police searches were conducted at the Drewitt-Barlow Stadium, their home, and The Swan pub in Braintree, with a Rolls-Royce removed from the stadium as inquiries continue.
British millionaire Barrie Drewitt-Barlow and his daughter's ex-boyfriend Scott Hutchinson have been charged with rape, sexual assault and human trafficking after Essex Police raids; a planned ITV documentary about Maldon and Tiptree FC has been scrapped; both men are due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court, facing potentially lengthy sentences including life for trafficking.
James Holder, 54, co-founder of Superdry, was jailed for eight years after being convicted of raping a woman in her Gloucestershire flat following a May 2022 night out. The Bristol Crown Court heard the attack showed entitlement and disregard for the victim’s rights, with the victim delivering a powerful statement about the lasting impact. Holder appeared by video link from prison for sentencing; he co-founded Superdry in 2003 with Julian Dunkerton.
James Holder, cofounder of Superdry, has been found guilty of rape in the United Kingdom after a night of drinking. He appeared at Cirencester Magistrates’ Court and was escorted away by a police officer as details of the case emerged (AP News, updated May 1, 2026).
A private-school teacher at Miss Hall’s School in Pittsfield, MA, Matthew Rutledge, 64, has been charged with grooming and raping two former students—now adults—over years dating back to 2001–2005 and 2007–2010. Prosecutors, who initially said the acts weren’t illegal due to the victims’ ages, later charged him with three counts of rape. Rutledge resigned in 2024 amid the allegations; the school says it’s cooperating with investigators, and the victims have advocated for a law closing the loophole. Rutledge was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and was released on personal recognizance with a pre-trial date set for June 18.
Norway’s Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit (not considered part of the royal house), faced new charges of reckless behaviour and violating a restraining order as his rape trial in Oslo continues. Prosecutors say he has admitted some of the 40 charges but denies the four counts of rape involving a woman who was asleep or incapacitated; the case features testimony from a former girlfriend and an audio recording, with photographers barred from the court. A conviction on the more serious charges could mean a lengthy prison term, while reckless behaviour carries up to two years in prison. The trial is scheduled for 28 days in Oslo District Court, with proceedings already well advanced.
Paris Saint-Germain vice-captain Achraf Hakimi is set to stand trial for rape stemming from a 2023 allegation; he denies the charges and prosecutors in Nanterre ordered the proceeding, with Hakimi also serving as Morocco’s captain.
Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi has been ordered to stand trial over a rape accusation dating from 2023 in Paris; he denies the charges, no trial date has been set, and the case is being handled by the Nanterre prosecutor's office.
British comedian and YouTuber Russell Brand appeared at London’s Southwark Crown Court and pleaded not guilty to two new sexual-assault charges, including rape, dating from 2009; this follows his earlier not guilty plea to five other charges. The four-to-five-week trial on the older charges is scheduled to begin June 3, and prosecutors and defense will decide whether the new charges will be added to that proceeding.
Isabel Rose, a 25-year-old Briton who reported being raped in Hong Kong in 2024, is facing blackmail and perverting the course of justice charges after the alleged perpetrator was released; she remains on bail, unable to work or leave Hong Kong, with a March trial date and the potential for years in prison if convicted. The case has drawn NGO and UK official concern about survivors’ access to justice in Hong Kong.
French survivor Gisèle Pelicot learns her husband drugged and raped her for years, and exploited others online; her case sparked reforms in French law and became a global symbol of resilience and accountability.
Marius Borg Hoiby, 29, the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, went on trial in Oslo on 38 counts, including four counts of rape and six counts of filming people without their consent, along with assault, threats and property damage. He pleaded not guilty to rape and filming, and pleaded guilty to other charges such as transporting more than seven pounds of cannabis and violating a restraining order, with a partial guilty plea on aggravated assault. The six-week proceeding unfolds as the royal family faces renewed scrutiny over the crown princess’s past ties to Jeffrey Epstein; the royal couple did not attend the hearings and some testimony will be heard in private.
The eldest son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 29-year-old Marius Borg Høiby, is set to stand trial in Oslo on 38 charges including four counts of rape, violence and threats against former partners, and marijuana trafficking, with a potential sentence of up to 10 years if convicted. The indictment outlines alleged rapes between 2018 and 2024, and violence or threats linked to former and subsequent partners. Høiby has no royal title and remains free pending trial; the royal couple say they will not attend or comment on the proceedings, as the case continues to cast a shadow over Norway’s royal family.
The first witness in the federal sex-trafficking trial of brothers Tal, Oren, and Alon Alexander testified in Manhattan that after attending a party at actor Zac Efron’s apartment she was drugged and repeatedly raped by Alon, with Tal present but not intervening. Prosecutors say the brothers exploited wealth and fame to lure victims, while defense argues the conduct was dating and not criminal. The case is expected to include additional accusers as it continues.