This is a huge turnaround in the Harvey Weinstein affair, whose sexual abuse scandal sparked the MeToo movement. The conviction of the American producer in 2020 was overturned this Thursday, April 25 by the highest court of the State of New York.
Procedural errors
The New York Court of Appeals rules that the trial judge who presided over Harvey Weinstein’s case made a crucial error by allowing prosecutors to call a series of women to testify, not including the charges. of the charges brought against him, reports the New York Times .
The judges of the Court of Appeal thus considered that the producer, who was considered one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, had not benefited from a fair trial. They believe that Harvey Weinstein was thus not tried only for the crimes of which he was accused, but for his past behavior.
The Court of Appeal ordered a new trial.
Incarcerated in New York
Harvey Weinstein, 72, is serving a 23-year sentence in a New York prison since his conviction for rape and sexual assault.
In addition to his case in New York, Harvey Weinstein was sentenced in 2022 to 16 years in prison in California after being found guilty of raping a woman in a Beverly Hills hotel.
” It is unfair “
Questioned by the New York Times, Ashley Judd, the first actress to have accused the producer, reacted to the announcement. “It’s unfair for survivors”she said. “We always live in our truth. And we know what happened. » “This is a shocking and disheartening day for victims of sexual assault”added Jane Manning, of the Women’s Equal Justice project, also interviewed by the newspaper. “This shows how much work we still have to do to advance the ideals of the MeToo movement. »
A new trial would force victims to relive their trauma on the witness stand.
