Posted on 05/10/2022 11:57:58 AM PDT by conservative98
Mario Batali on Tuesday was cleared of charges that he groped a woman at a Boston bar — an important victory for the celebrity chef who fell from grace after multiple allegations of sexual impropriety surfaced.
Boston Municipal Court Judge James Stanton found the chef — who had waived his right to a trial by jury — not guilty of indecent battery and assault after a criminal trial that lasted less than two days.
Tene, 32 testified on Monday that Batali, 61, non-consensually kissed her, rubbed her breasts, grabbed her behind and put his hands between her legs while taking selfies at since-shuttered eatery Towne Stove and Spirits in 2017.
The restaurateur was “grabbing me in a way that I was never touched before,” she told the court.
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In his closing arguments Tuesday, Fuller said the Tene brought the charges against his client to make money and exploit the #MeToo movement.
“The photos and videos do not lie, they do not have the financial motive to lie, but Ms. Tene does,” Fuller said of the selfies taken during the April 1, 2017, incident.
Lawyers for chef zeroed in on Tene’s alleged past mistruths, noting she once admitted to lying to a Massachusetts court by saying she was clairvoyant to get out of jury duty. She also conspired with her mother to forge a lease to help her get out of paying a gym’s $200 cancellation fee, his lawyers said.
“We know she lied and scammed a gym for $200, what would she do for $50,000?” Fuller said.
In one particularly damning text, Fuller said a friend told the plaintiff in 2018 to “just play up the story” when she went to the media with her allegations.
“Omg of course queen,” Tene texted back.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Just like Johnny Depp, men NEED to fight back. I admire him because he knew all of his crazy life would be made public, but he needed to clear his name of being a wife beater. His good name was more important than anything else. For now, it seems to be working because I don’t believe anything that his ex-wife says.
#BelieveAllWhores
Males and females are both on Depp’s side.
Personally I think he’s funny.
Amber Heard is just so unlikeable. I only saw a little of her testimony on the stand but it was SO over the top crazy.
I just finished “Devil in the Kitchen” by Marco Pierre White. He talked a little about Batali and went off on Gordon Ramsey. He wrote that he made Ramsey cry from all the yelling. Now we know why Ramsey does this.
I think Depp has some problems, but he is not a guy to beat on women. She is a bunny boiler, past her sell by date, crappy actress on the stand and in movies. I’m worried about her little baby she adopted. Mommy Dearest comes to mind....
She belongs with “hairdressers, redheads, and girls named Tiffany…”
I just watched him in “Donny Brasco” from his days in serious roles. He did a great job as the undercover FBI agent infiltrating the NYC mafia.
Mama mia, thatsa spicy meatballa!
I like Johnny Depp movies because bad things happen to Johnny Depp in them.
He’s somewhat self destructive but doesn’t come off as a woman beater.
Heard does come off as crazy.
I had no clue she had a child. Unless something major happens, that kid is doomed…
I tell you I'm shocked! To think this could happen in America!!! Stop the presses!
He has quite the time in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas…
Public Enemies is pretty decent too.
I thought the trial just started?
I’ve never seen that one.
Should I watch it? (Bad things happen to Depp?)
It’s only for a certain type of individual. It’s written by Hunter S Thompson.
Tons of drug use and just chaos.
I think most FReepers would not like it.
It lasted less than two days…
Batali is one of the few celebrity chefs I find kind of likeable.
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