Closing arguments in the retrial of Danny Masterson, the former star of “That ’70s Show,” on charges of raping three women began Tuesday.
Masterson, 45, is accused of raping the women between 2001 and 2003. He has denied all the allegations.
The prosecution’s case relied heavily on the testimony of the three women, who all said that Masterson drugged and raped them. The defense argued that the women were lying and that Masterson was the victim of a “witch hunt” by Hollywood Scientologists.
In their closing arguments, the prosecution said that the women’s testimony was credible and that Masterson’s alibis were not believable. The defense said that the women were motivated by money and fame and that their stories were full of inconsistencies.
The jury is expected to begin deliberating on Wednesday.
The case against Masterson has been closely watched by the #MeToo movement. Masterson was one of the first high-profile men to be accused of sexual assault in the wake of the movement.
If convicted, Masterson could face up to 45 years in prison.
The retrial comes after Masterson’s first trial ended in a mistrial in 2020. The jury was deadlocked 10-2 in favor of conviction.
Masterson’s retrial is being held in Los Angeles Superior Court.