Harvey Weinstein due back in court for hearing ahead of retrial
NEW YORK– NEW YORK (AP) — Harvey Weinstein is due back in court in New York on Wednesday for a hearing ahead of his retrial on sex crimes charges stemming from his landmark #MeToo case.
Judge Curtis Farber, among other things, is expected to address a request from prosecutors consolidate this case of a newer load in a single trial.
The former movie mogul already faced a new trial on two sex crime charges in the state’s highest court overturned his 2020 conviction earlier this year. Then in September he was hit with a new indictment accusing him of another attack. He has pleaded not guilty.
Weinstein was convicted on charges — which have since been overturned — that he forcibly performed oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006, and third-degree rape for an attack on an aspiring actor in 2013. new indictment, prosecutors say he forced oral sex on another woman at a Manhattan hotel in the spring of 2006.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office has argued in court filings that holding separate trials would be “extremely inefficient” and a waste of judicial resources. Prosecutors said the cases have significant overlap because they involve similar criminal statutes, witnesses, expert testimony and evidence.
Weinstein’s lawyers have argued in court filings that the cases should remain separate. They said prosecutors are seeking to “expand the scope” of the court-ordered new trial and turn it into “an entirely new proceeding” by including the new charges.
There is also the question of when Weinstein’s retrial is expected to actually begin.
Faber had tentatively scheduled Weinstein’s trial to begin on November 12, but both lawyers and prosecutors have expressed concern that the date will not give their side enough time to prepare.
Weinstein was in custody at the city’s Rikers Island jail complex and faced consequences numerous health complications while behind bars.
He was too convicted of rape in Los Angeles in 2022, although his lawyers have appealed.
The allegations of sexual abuse and harassment against Weinstein boosted the #MeToo movement in 2017.
The 72-year-old former producer co-founded the film and television production companies Miramax and The Weinstein Company. He produced films such as ‘Shakespeare in Love’ and ‘The Crying Game’.
___
Succeed Philip Marcelo twitter.com/philmarcelo.