The New York Supreme Court has today overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 conviction on felony sex crime charges, marking a significant development in one of the most high-profile cases of the #MeToo era.
BREAKING: A New York court has overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 conviction for rape, ordering a new trial in the landmark "MeToo" case.
Sky's US Correspondent @Stone_SkyNews reports.
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The decision came after the New York Court of Appeals determined that the judge overseeing Weinstein's trial had made a critical error by allowing prosecutors to call witnesses who testified about allegations not directly related to the charges against him. Among those who spoke out was Ashley Judd, the first actress to publicly accuse Weinstein, who expressed dismay at the ruling, stating, "this is unfair to the survivors. We are still living in our truth. And we know what happened."
Weinstein, who was sentenced to 23 years in prison in 2020 for offences including forcing oral sex on a production assistant and raping an actress, will remain incarcerated due to a separate conviction in Los Angeles in 2022.
The court's decision to overturn Weinstein's conviction reopens painful wounds for his accusers and reignites discussions surrounding the prevalence of sexual assault by powerful individuals. The prospect of a new trial raises concerns that survivors may have to relive their trauma on the witness stand once again.
While Weinstein's lawyer hailed the ruling as a victory for defendants' rights, advocates for survivors of sexual assault expressed frustration and disappointment. Jane Manning, director of the Women's Equal Justice Project, lamented the setback, stating, "This is a shocking and frustrating day for those who survive sexual assault. This shows how much more work we all need to do to advance the ideals of the #MeToo movement."
(Source: In.gr)
