Paul Haggis Defense Wins Right to Call Former Scientologist Leah Remini to Testify in His Rape Trial

Former Scientist Leah Remini can testify at the director Paul Haggis’ The rape trial this afternoon followed a tense courtroom between the prosecutor and the defense.

Just before 11 a.m., Hon. Judge Sabrina Kraus dismissed the jury to discuss the possibility of Haggis’ friend and Scientology colleague making a whistleblower Leah Remini stand up.

Kraus expressed concern about King of Queens’ The star’s testimony may accumulate or repeat, following the testimony of other former Scientologists during the trial, including that of Mike Rinder.

Haggis, a former scientist who publicly defected from religion in 2009 after 35 years as a member of the church, argued that the controversial religion led to the civil rape case against him as part of a coordinated vendor to smear him for his sake. denunciation efforts.

In September, Kraus ruled that Haggis could argue that the Church of Scientology fabricated the sexual assault.

“Leah Remini will examine mainly on two topics,” Haggis attorney Priya Chaudhry told Kraus. “She is, if not number one and number two, an enemy of Scientology and what they did to her and how Scientology did it — her personal experience with the strategies. different are used to destroy her.”

Paul Archuleta

Chaudhry also indicated that Remini will act as a character witness.

Chaudhry explains: “She was born in Scientology and was also born in Hollywood, and in both of those communities, she was very familiar with Mr. Haggis’ reputation for any aggression or violence against him. women.

However, Breest’s attorney Zoe Salzman interjected, echoing the judge’s concern that Remini’s testimony could be repeated.

“I don’t think Ms. Remini’s personal experience is more relevant to this case than Mr. Rinder, Melissa Haggis or Mr. Haggis,” Salzman argued. “None of these witnesses have any connection to Scientology and this case and therefore it is cumulative. We’ve heard over and over that this is a terrible organization that does terrible things. “

Salzman called the Scientology defenses’ defenses “notorious”, referring to the possibility that Remini could testify as “duplicate testimony” at the “11th hour”.

Kraus, however, sided with Haggis’ legal team, saying she would allow Remini to testify if she was able to do so by the end of the day.

“About those two points. I let her testify but one thing is, if she doesn’t – if we get it done today – then I’m not going to keep it for her, you know, that’s why I want you to. He’s ready today because this trial needs to end.”

Remini and her family were recently affected by illness and the sitcom actress “barely speaks” and “coughs” earlier this week. Haggis’ attorneys said Remini tested negative for COVID-19.

“I have no intention of adjourning the trial because she has the flu,” Kraus countered, cutting Chaudhry off mid-sentence.

Kraus added: “If she wants to testify against the flu, that’s fine, if she doesn’t want to testify to the flu, that’s fine too.

Remini will likely testify via Zoom.

Ex-Scientology spokesperson and senior executive Mike Rinder testified last week on behalf of Haggis, telling the jury that Remini, Haggis and himself were among the men of Scientology. three public enemies.

Rinder and Remini, host of the A&E Emmy Award winning series Leah Remini: Science and Consequencespreviously released a joint statement also accusing the Church of Scientology of producing the case.

“We expect further ‘reveals’ about Paul Haggis in this campaign to destroy him will be based on information culled from his Science files as ‘anonymous’ accusers. rather, hidden behind a lawyer who will never have to reveal who is paying their bills,” their earlier statement read.

Paul Archuleta

Haggis was grilled for the second day in a row on Friday by defense attorneys representing a former journalist alleging Accident The director raped her in his penthouse in 2013.

Attorney Ilanna Maazel opened the second day of the cross-examination by briefly asking the Hollywood producer about the hours leading up to the sexual assault allegation. Haleigh Breesta former journalist has accused he raped her in his SoHo loft after a movie premiere party in Manhattan in 2013.

A few minutes after cross-checking, Maazel showed a picture of the actress Catherine Zeta Jones hugs Haggis at the 2013 horror movie premiere after party Side Effectshours before the alleged sexual assault occurred.

“You don’t think Catherine Zeta Jones is romantically interested in you do you?” Mazel asked.

“No,” Haggis replied.

“Is she just being friendly in your opinion?” Maazel replied.

“We’re close friends,” Haggis said.

The Soirée mentioned has been attended by a number of A-list celebrities including Michael Douglas and Jude Law. Breest, who at the time was a former Journalist for the Motion Picture Association of Events organizers, regularly catered to red carpet events with a rotating Hollywood cast, was 26 at the time.

Craig Barrett

Haggis testified that he first saw Breest shortly after arriving at the after-party, where the pair shared a quick hug after they both exchanged work-related emails that Haggis called “flirting.” ” for a number of months.

“We met and hugged but not at the door,” Haggis said.

“And quickly then did you go talk to Jude Law?” Mazel asked.

“Maybe three or four minutes later,” Haggis said.

Maazel also argued with Haggis about his sexual habits, whether he used lubricants, keeping condoms in his apartment, having a vasectomy, and how his consent was interpreted. – and especially the meaning of the word ‘no’.

“While you were trying to take off Miss Breest’s tights, Miss Breest said the word ‘no,’ right?:

“Yes, she used the word,” Haggis said.

“She said no two or three times, didn’t she?” Maazel objected.

“Just as part of the sentence,” Haggis testified.

“According to you, she didn’t say ‘no’ the way one means ‘no’, did she?” Mazel asked.

“She didn’t say no, stop, yes,” said Haggis.

“”No” doesn’t always mean “no” to you, is that fair?” Sharply Maazel said Haggis attorney Priya Chaudhry was quick to object, before Judge Sabrina Kraus upheld.

Haggis and Breest’s attorneys then clashed over whether the filmmaker infiltrated Breest with his penis, capturing a 2019 cancellation statement where the screenwriter said he he “doesn’t remember” about it, despite denying as early as Thursday that he had ever had sex. intercourse with her.

“And you told Miss Breest that you had a vasectomy before you penetrated her vagina with your penis? Maazel asked him.

“I can’t say ‘yes’ or ‘no’,” Haggis replied. “I have no recollection of penetrating her with my penis. I may have. “

“You don’t know if you told Miss Breest, ‘you’re nice and tight'”?

“I don’t think I ever said that,” Haggis replied.

In court on Thursday, Haggis testified that Breest looked “embarrassed” and “cartoon” during the alleged test, comparing her demeanor to the cartoon. Betty Boop and Rabbit Roger Jessica Rabbit character. At one point, Breest’s security team displayed images of both cartoon characters to the jury, which consisted of six women and three men.

“Did you know Betty Boop is seen as a sexist and vile cartoon character?” asked Maazel as a black and white image of the cartoon character provocatively posing in a short black dress flashed across the courtroom screen.

Chaudhry objected to Maazel’s investigation into the background of the rumor that Judge Sabrina Kraus had supported.

The second sexy image of Jessica Rabbit in a red dress, red high heels and purple gloves reaching to her arms and legs crossed was also on display for the jurors.

Four other women have also come forward accusing Haggis of raping or attempting to sexually assault them between 1996 and 2015. On Thursday, the Canadian screenwriter directly denied the allegations on the stand.

“I don’t know why women – or anyone – would lie about things like this, fabricate or distort the facts,” Haggis told the court Thursday.

Haggis again directly addressed the allegations in his cross-examination on Friday.

Haggis’ family members, including his son, three daughters, and his ex-wife Dallas actress Deborah Rennard, as well as other supporters of Million dollar baby writer, lined up two benches in the courtroom and listened sternly for the third day in a row to the Canadian screenwriter.

Charles Eshelman

However, after 13 days of trial, Haggis’s attorneys struggled to directly connect the sexual assault allegations involving Breest to the “dirty tricks” of “radical” religion.

Meanwhile, Breest’s attorneys viewed Haggis’ Scientology defense as a smokescreen designed to distract jurors.

“[It’s] pathetic, absurd, ludicrous, shameful,” Breest’s attorney Ilan Maazel told The Daily Beast outside court in October. “The whole idea of ​​this Scientology is an attempt to mislead. jury from the actual case, the actual evidence. This is not a case of Science. This is a case of what Paul Haggis did with Haleigh Breest. “

The Church of Scientology also vehemently denies Haggis’ allegations of involvement in religious organizations allegedly involved in the sexual assault — or any connection to any of the victims of the case. . Karin Pouw, a spokesman for Scientology, instead accused Haggis of “writing false stories about the Church for a decade” to “cover up” his “bad deeds”.

“The church has nothing to do with the claims against Haggis nor has it had anything to do with the lawyers behind the accusers,” former Scientology spokesperson Karin Pouw told The Daily Beast in a statement. declare. “The Church has nothing to do with the claims against Haggis nor has it had anything to do with his accusers.”

As the court took a lunch break, Haggis’ attorneys briefly addressed Remini’s probable afternoon testimony – and the possibility that her testimony could be moved to Monday, despite her ultimatum. judge on whether she will stand by the end of the week.

“Nothing is certain,” said Seth Zuckerman, another attorney representing Haggis The Daily Beast.