Weinstein conviction overturned in NY
On Thursday, a New York appeals court reversed Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction and ruled that the disgraced film mogul ought to be retried to the court.
In its 4-3 decision, the State of New York Court of Appeals determined that a Manhattan judge "erroneously" admitted the testimony of three unrelated women whose allegations did not pertain to the case.
Juda Engelmayer, a spokesperson for Harvey Weinstein, stated to ABC News, "We are ecstatically surprised and are analyzing the verdict."
However, eight alleged Weinstein victims were represented by attorney Douglas H. Wigdor, who criticized the court's decision.
“We conclude that the trial court erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes,” read the court’s decision. “The remedy for these egregious errors is a new trial.”"The jury was instructed on the significance of this testimony, and it would be tragic if the verdict were to be overturned, as it would force the victims to endure another trial," he continued.
In the case, Weinstein entered a not-guilty plea. His attorneys contended that the interactions took place with consent and that the trial exemplified the unbridled nature of the #MeToo movement.
In February 2020, the jury reached a different verdict, finding him guilty of two counts: firstly, forcing a TV and film production assistant to engage in oral sex in 2006, and secondly, committing a third-degree rape by assaulting an aspiring actress in 2013.
Weinstein, 72, has been incarcerated in a New York penitentiary serving a 23 year sentence.
The Oscar-winning Shakespeare in Love producer will not be released despite the court overturning his conviction; he was found guilty in a separate rape case in Los Angeles in December 2022.
A jury found him guilty of raping a woman in a hotel room in Beverly Hills in 2013, and he was subsequently given a 16-year prison sentence.
ABC News reports that Weinstein has been transferred to a correctional facility in California.
Nevertheless, the Manhattan district attorney's office has declared its intention to retry him.
Weinstein’s spokesperson Juda Engelmayer told ABC News, “We are happily surprised and we are studying the ruling.”
However, eight alleged Weinstein victims were represented by attorney Douglas H. Wigdor, who criticized the court's decision.
ABC News has learned that Weinstein will be transferred to a prison in California.
Manhatten District Attorney stated, ““We will do everything in our power to retry this case, and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault,” a spokeswoman for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Dozens of women, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek, and Uma Thurman, have leveled allegations of rape, sexual assault, and harassment against Harvey Klein.