Harvey Weinstein - In November a new process begins
Harvey Weinstein (72) must appear before court again on November 12. A judge set the date for the resumption of the rape trial against the fallen Hollywood mogul during a hearing at a Manhattan court on Friday (19. July), according to several US media, including CBS News.
November 12 as provisional date
Previously, in early July during another hearing, November was announced as a likely date for the start of the new trial. However, the prosecution stated that investigations were not yet completed, and the acquired evidence could not be presented to the Grand Jury. November 12 was then set as a provisional date. The judge also mentioned that an earlier start date was possible if preparations were completed faster.
Weinstein was present at the New York courtroom on Friday, wearing a suit, glasses, and sitting in a wheelchair. The 72-year-old has been suffering from health issues for some time.
Weinstein's judgment overturned
The film producer Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison by a New York court in 2020 for rape and sexual assault. However, in April 2023, the highest court in the state of New York overturned the judgment. The reason: The judge had allowed testimonies from women who were not victims of the indictment but had spoken negatively about Weinstein. These testimonies were irrelevant to the case but could have influenced the jury.
Despite the judgment being overturned by the supreme court, Weinstein remains in custody. In 2022, he was sentenced in another trial in Los Angeles for sexual offenses. The sentence was increased to 16 years in prison in early 2023.
The new trial against Harvey Weinstein, formerly a prominent figure in Hollywood, will continue in New York City's Manhattan court on November 12, as announced by several US media sources, such as CBS News. This date was set due to the ongoing investigations and the need for additional evidence, although the judge has suggested that an earlier start could be possible if preparations are expedited.
The CBS News coverage further highlighted that Weinstein, who was previously convicted of rape and sexual assault in 2020, has been in custody since his sentencing. However, this conviction was overturned in April 2023 by the highest court in New York State due to the inclusion of irrelevant testimonies from non-victims that may have potentially influenced the jury.
As part of the ongoing US-Media coverage of Weinstein's case, it was reported that additional trials related to similar charges are taking place, with Weinstein currently serving a 16-year sentence in Los Angeles following his 2022 conviction for numerous sexual offenses.
