The 2020 verdict in the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault case has been overturned

Harvey Weinstein at a 2022 hearing in Los Angeles – Photo: Etienne Laurent / Reuters

The New York Court of Appeals overturned a 2020 court decision against Harvey Weinstein, which gave the former producer a 23-year prison sentence for rape, Sky News reports.

According to the state’s highest body, the judge of the original trial made several mistakes during the trial, and therefore the verdict is not valid. As a result, prosecutors are re-indicting Weinstein. The appeals court said the original judge had influenced the defendant, for example by having a woman who was not charged with rape testify in the case. 4 of the 7 appeal judges came to the conclusion that the producer’s rights were violated, the trial was not clear.

As of 2017, several women have accused Harvey Weinstein of being violent dating back to the 1970s. These women will likely have to testify in the new trial as well.

The 2020 verdict was based on two cases: he was found guilty of sexually assaulting Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping Jessica Mann in 2013. For this reason, he is currently serving his 23-year sentence in a New York prison, but he will not be released with Thursday’s decision, because he received 16 years in Los Angeles for sexual abuse.

“We will do everything in our power to retry this case and remain committed to sexual assault survivors.”

said Alvin Bragg, a spokesman for Manhattan District Attorney.

Weinstein’s accusers included Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek, Lupita Nyong’o, Ashley Judd, Asia Argento and Rose McGowan. Weinstein admitted that his behavior caused a lot of pain, but he pleaded not guilty, saying that all of his partners consented to the sexual activity. The case sparked the MeToo movement, and several women came forward with accusations against powerful people.