Why did New York court overturn Harvey Weinstein’s sexual assault conviction?

The event has garnered worldwide criticism, with many calling it a ‘betrayal of the system’. Regardless of the case being overturned by an appeals courtroom, Weinstein is unlikely to return out of jail. Furthermore, prosecutors in Manhattan have already begun their efforts to attraction the case.

Why was the New York sexual assault case in opposition to Harvey Weinstein overturned?

The case was overturned by the New York’s Court docket of Appeals after it noticed that the trial choose within the rape case prejudiced Weinstein with “egregious” improper rulings. One of many examples cited in the course of the listening to was the choice to let girls testify about allegations that Weinstein wasn’t charged with, reported AP. The courtroom dominated in a 4:3 majority that it was an “abuse of judicial discretion” for Choose James Burke to permit testimony from these different girls about “loathsome alleged dangerous acts and despicable behaviour,” based on the Related Press (AP).

“With out query, that is appalling, shameful, repulsive conduct that would solely diminish the defendant’s character earlier than the jury,” AP quoted the choose. 

Choose James Burke additionally swayed the trial by allowing the prosecutor to confront Weinstein, if he selected to testify, about his previous historical past, argued Weinstein’s lawyer.

Will Weinstein be launched?

There may be much less probability of the discharge of Weinstein because the 72-year-old has been convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of one other rape and sentenced to 16 years.

Weinstein has been serving time in New York, most not too long ago on the Mohawk Correctional Facility, about 100 miles (160 kilometres) northwest of Albany.

He could possibly be taken to California to serve his sentence there, although he is likely to be held in New York whereas awaiting a brand new trial if prosecutors select to pursue one.

Amid a number of trials associated to sexual assault circumstances, Weinstein has maintained that he’s harmless. At current, he’s going through varied expenses of legal intercourse acts, together with compelled oral intercourse on a TV and movie manufacturing assistant in 2006 and rape.

(With inputs from AP)

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Revealed: 26 Apr 2024, 02:08 PM IST