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Actor Danny Masterson Convicted Of 2 Counts Of Rape

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LA – After a jury found Danny Masterson guilty on two of three counts of rape in his second trial, in which the Church of Scientology played a significant part, “That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs on Wednesday. He faces a prison sentence of 30 years to life.

Masterson’s wife, actor and model Bijou Phillips, who had sat stony-faced throughout both trials, gasped when the conviction was pronounced and sobbed as he was brought into custody.

After debating for seven days over two weeks, the jury of five men and seven women decided. On the third count, which claimed Masterson had sexually assaulted a previous girlfriend, they could not reach a decision. The verdict had received an 8-4 vote in favor.

Masterson, 47, will remain behind bars until his sentence is rendered. There is no established date for sentencing.

“I am experiencing a complex array of emotions — relief, exhaustion, strength, and sadness — knowing that my abuser, Danny Masterson, will face accountability for his criminal behaviour,” said one of the women, who Masterson knew as a fellow churchgoer and was found guilty of rape at his home in 2003.

In the statement, a second woman, a former girlfriend whose count caused the jury to reach a deadlock, said: “While I’m encouraged that Danny Masterson will face some criminal punishment, I am devastated that he has dodged criminal accountability for his heinous conduct against me.”

Masterson’s representatives declined to comment, although it is almost clear they will appeal.

Prosecutors retried Masterson in December after a deadlocked jury resulted in a mistrial. They said that between 2001 and 2003, he drugged and brutally raped three women at his Hollywood Hills home. All three women were church members then, and they claimed he utilized his status there to evade punishment for many years.

The three women bravely came forward and revealed their stories, and for that, we are grateful, said Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón in a statement following the verdict on Wednesday.

Masterson’s attorneys cited no witnesses, and he declined to testify. The defense asserted that the acts were consensual and worked to undermine the women’s accounts by calling attention to changes and contradictions that they claimed indicated coordination between the parties.

Masterson, 47, will remain behind bars until his sentence is rendered. There is no established date for sentencing.

In his closing argument, defense attorney Philip Cohen reminded the jury of their instructions and said, “You should consider not believing anything the witness says if you find that a witness in this case intentionally lied about something.

The Church of Scientology had a major impact in the first trial, but it may have been even more influential in the second trial. Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo permitted expert testimony on church policy from a former member of the leadership of Scientology who has since become a well-known adversary.

In a statement following the verdict, the Church said that the “inclusion of religion in this trial was an unprecedented violation of the First Amendment and impacted the due process rights of every American. The Church was not a party to this action, and according to centuries-old Supreme Court tradition, religion had no place in this legal process.

The accusers said on the witness stand that they were intimidated by certain Scientologists in the courtroom due to the high tension between current and former Scientologists.

Leah Remini, an actor and former church member who has emerged as its most prominent critic, occasionally attended the trial and held one of the accusers close to her during closing statements.

According to Remini, the two guilty convictions in the retrial are “a relief,” she wrote on Twitter. Heroes are the ladies who escaped Danny Masterson’s harassment. They have endured violent attacks and harassment from Danny’s well-funded legal team and Scientology for years, she wrote in her post. However, they persisted in their quest for justice.

Two of the accusers have filed a civil action regarding the alleged harassment.

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Masterson, 47, will remain behind bars until his sentence is rendered. There is no established date for sentencing.

Scientology states, “There is not a scintilla of evidence supporting the scandalous allegations that the Church harassed the accusers.”

L. Ron Hubbard founded the Church of Scientology in 1953 with many Hollywood-based adherents. The judge set restrictions on how much the prosecution may discuss the Church and mostly allowed it to be used as an excuse for why the women delayed so long to contact the police.

The women stated that when they reported Masterson to church officials, they were informed that they had not been sexually assaulted, were required to participate in ethics training, and counseled against reporting a member of such high standing to criminal enforcement.

Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller’s closing statement to the jury stated, “They were raped, they were punished for it, and they were retaliated against.” They were taught by science that there is no justice for them.

“Testimony and descriptions of Scientology beliefs” during the trial, according to the Church, were “uniformly false.”

“The Church has no policy prohibiting or discouraging members from reporting criminal conduct of anyone — Scientologists or not — to law enforcement,” the statement read.

Olmedo will hold a hearing the following week to establish how a lawyer for the Church of Scientology obtained information that the prosecution had sent to the defense. Links that the attorney unintentionally included in an email to Mueller served as the basis for the evidence.

People who claim they have been sexually abused are not routinely named by The Associated Press.

masterson

In this case, the testimony was explicit and intense.

According to the two women whose evidence resulted in Masterson’s conviction, he served them drinks in 2003, causing them to get drunk or pass out before he viciously raped them.

The third witness, Masterson’s then-girlfriend of five years, said she awoke to discover him raping her and had to yank his hair to stop him. Her testimony caused the jury to reach a deadlock.

Olmedo only let the ladies describe their state in the first trial but enabled the accusers and the prosecution to directly state that Masterson drugged the women in the second trial.

There were no drug-related charges against Masterson, and there was no toxicology data to support the claim.

The allegations were made when Masterson was at the height of his fame, appearing as Steven Hyde on Fox’s “That ’70s Show” from 1998 to 2006, the program that launched the careers of Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, and Topher Grace.

On the 2016 Netflix comedy “The Ranch,” Masterson reconnected with Kutcher, but the project was canceled when an LAPD investigation became public in December 2017.

SOURCE – (AP)

Kiara Grace is a staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. Her writing focuses on technology trends, particularly in the realm of consumer electronics and software. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics, Kiara delivers insightful analyses that resonate with tech enthusiasts and casual readers alike. Her articles strike a balance between in-depth coverage and accessibility, making them a go-to resource for anyone seeking to stay informed about the latest innovations shaping our digital world.

Celebrity

Lionel Messi Gets 2 Goals In Front Of Record New England Crowd As Miami Beats Revolution 4-1

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The event will be held in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Lionel Messi netted two goals, captivating a record-breaking crowd of New England Revolution supporters, and propelled Inter Miami CF to a resounding 4-1 triumph on Saturday evening.

Messi impressed the crowd of 65,612 at Gillette Stadium by scoring a goal with his left foot from a long distance inside the penalty area. This was his ninth goal of the season, which occurred in the 68th minute, breaking the 1-all deadlock.

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AP – VOR News Image

Lionel Messi Gets 2 Goals In Front Of Record New England Crowd As Miami Beats Revolution 4-1

Indeed, he also achieved a minor historical milestone. Miami said on social network X that he holds the distinction of becoming the inaugural player in MLS history to contribute 16 goals in the first seven games of a season.

He has been doing it consistently throughout his entire life. “We anticipate this behavior from him,” stated teammate Benjamin Cremaschi, who successfully scored the third goal following Messi’s blocked shot. He effortlessly demonstrates proficiency.” We are pleased to have him on our team. Whenever he is presented with a chance, he seizes it.

The attendance surpassed the previous record of 61,316, set when the LA Galaxy defeated the Revolution in the 2002 MLS championship.

During the first half, he positioned himself a short distance inside the penalty area and successfully scored with a left-footed kick, resulting in a 1-1 tie in the 32nd minute.

“In the first half, following our goal, I believed that we had effectively contained them,” stated Caleb Porter, the coach of New England. “They were not receiving ample opportunities, nor were they being granted sufficient time and freedom to execute their actions.” Messi then demonstrated his typical skill and ability by identifying a weakness or vulnerability.

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AP – VOR News Image

Lionel Messi Gets 2 Goals In Front Of Record New England Crowd As Miami Beats Revolution 4-1

Amidst a match between the top-ranked Miami team in the Eastern Conference and the bottom-ranked Revolution team, the 36-year-old who won the 2022 World Cup scored a goal, resounding cheers reverberating throughout the bleachers.

Cremaschi and Luis Suarez scored goals toward the end of the match for Miami. Messi was attributed with an assist on Suarez’s goal.

In the opening minute, the Revolution took a 1-0 lead as Tomas Chancalay skillfully evaded a defender and executed a shot over the charging netminder, Drake Callender.

Despite the presence of the Celtics and Bruins, both local winter professional teams are now competing in the playoffs. Much of the focus in the sports world this week was around Messi’s arrival.

Hundreds of fans, primarily children, donning the pink Miami Messi shirt, entered the stadium approximately 90 minutes before the match.

Once the stadium was filled, they were readily seen amidst the crowd.

Among the items, a few of the Messi No. 10 Argentina shirts, which featured white and blue stripes, were intermingled among the items.

“I am filled with great enthusiasm,” expressed Stacy Mills, a 31-year-old itinerant healthcare professional from East Tennessee, who was donning one of the Argentina jerseys featuring Messi.” “I have been a follower of his career since playing with Barcelona.”

Her buddy, Caleadia Jessup, 53, a travel nurse from Fayetteville, North Carolina, was equally proud to display her Messi Argentina jersey.

messi

AP – VOR News Image

Lionel Messi Gets 2 Goals In Front Of Record New England Crowd As Miami Beats Revolution 4-1

“I trailed him during his participation in the World Cup representing his home nation,” she remarked, beaming.

Many children had the opportunity to witness a renowned soccer player at the previous residence of Tom Brady, who is widely regarded as the greatest of all time in the NFL. Brady achieved the impressive feat of winning six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots.

“I have been engaged in playing since my early years.” “The Miami star is my favorite player,” stated Cameron Howell, a 14-year-old from Halifax, Massachusetts.

SOURCE – (AP)

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Celebrity

Ducky Bhai’s Wife Aroob Jatoi AI-Generated Deepfake Videos Goes Viral on Youtube

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Ducky Bhai's Wife Aroob Jatoi AI-Generated Deepfake Videos Goes Viral on YouTube

YouTuber Saadur Rehman – also known as Ducky Bhai – and his wife, Aroob Jatoi, have become embroiled in a distressing situation after a deep fake video involving Aroob circulated online.

Even though AI-generated deepfake videos continue to raise concerns, Aroob Jatoi, wife of top Pakistani YouTuber Ducky Bhai, is the latest celebrity to be targeted.

YouTuber Saadur Rehman, known online as Ducky Bhai, was sharing a deep-fake video of Aroob Jatoi online.

Even though social media users are now accustomed to scandals like this, the viral clip, created using artificial intelligence tools, caused a frenzy.

In response to the deepfake video appearing in searches on X and other platforms, Ducky Bhai took to social media to explain the phenomenon and urge vigilance against cybercrime.

 

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A post shared by Saad Ur Rehman (@duckybhai)

Known for his roasting and gaming channels, the YouTuber expressed deep dismay at his wife’s dignity degradation.

The couple received support, while some criticized them for broadcasting personal information in their vlogs. Aroob also expressed her concerns and urged action against similar threats.

SEE ALSO: Watch: Hareem Shah gets hit by Another Video Leak Scandal

Ducky Bhai offers Rs1 million to unmask the culprit behind wife Aroob’s deep fake YouTube video

Ducky also offered Rs10lac for information identifying the perpetrator responsible for the leak. Furthermore, he urged the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other concerned officials to take action against individuals and encouraged the public to report fraudulent content.

Ducky Bhai

Ducky, is a popular Pakistani YouTuber known for his humorous content, reactions, and commentary.

He has gained fame for his humorous and sometimes controversial videos, often in response to other content creators or roasts. He entertains millions of fans through his YouTube and other social media platforms with roasting and gaming videos.

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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Files Motion To Dismiss Some Claims In A Sexual Assault Lawsuit

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AP - VOR News Image

Los Angeles  – In response to a complaint from a woman accusing Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexual assault, his attorneys have responded. They have submitted a petition to dismiss some claims that were not legally applicable at the time of the claimed incident.

The application submitted in a New York court asserts that Diddy is immune from being sued due to the absence of specific legislation when Joi Dickerson-Deal brought the accusations against him in 1991.

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Hollywood Reporter – VOR News Image

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Files Motion To Dismiss Some Claims In A Sexual Assault Lawsuit

The attorneys representing the music entrepreneur are seeking the dismissal of specific allegations made by Dickerson-Deal, including revenge porn and human trafficking, with prejudice.

In a previous legal submission, she alleged that Diddy deliberately administered drugs to her, subsequently took her to her residence, and engaged in sexual assault during a date in Harlem during her time as a 19-year-old university student.

The lawsuit claims that Combs surreptitiously recorded the attack and subsequently distributed it to multiple acquaintances inside the music industry, all without the victim’s awareness. He refuted the accusations, asserting that she was attempting to take advantage of the New York law that temporarily prolonged the period in which legal action could be taken.

Dickerson-Deal’s assertion was made almost thirty years after the supposed wrongdoing, and the New York State Revenge Porn Law was not officially established until 2019, according to Combs’ legal team.

In addition, his legal representatives highlighted several additional laws, such as the New York Services for Victims of Human Trafficking Law, enacted in 2007.

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Page Six – VOR News Image

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Files Motion To Dismiss Some Claims In A Sexual Assault Lawsuit

The standard practice of the Associated Press is to refrain from disclosing the identities of those who claim to have experienced sexual abuse unless they choose to make their allegations public, as Dickerson has done.

Recently, federal police conducted raids on Combs’ houses in Los Angeles and Miami as part of a sex trafficking investigation. The criminal probe represents a significant increase in the examination of Combs, who has faced multiple recent lawsuits regarding sexual assault.

Combs resolved a case the day after it was filed in November, in which his former protege and girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie, accused him of sexual abuse, including rape, over several years. The lawsuit alleges that he coerced her into engaging in sexual acts with male escorts as he recorded the encounters.

In February, a music producer initiated legal proceedings claiming that Combs exerted undue influence on him to engage in the act of soliciting prostitutes and coerced him into engaging in sexual activities with them.

combs

The Mirror – VOR News Image

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Files Motion To Dismiss Some Claims In A Sexual Assault Lawsuit

One of the individuals who accused Combs was a lady who alleged that he sexually assaulted her twenty years ago when she was seventeen.

Combs and his legal representatives have refuted all the accusations made in the cases.

SOURCE – (AP)

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