US prosecutors plan to retry Harvey Weinstein after his 2020 conviction for rape was overturned in New York.
The disgraced film mogul, who has been in jail for 4 years, appeared in a Manhattan court docket on Wednesday for the primary time since that conviction was overturned by an appeals court docket final week.
A retrial may occur as quickly as September.
“We consider on this case and shall be retrying this case,” prosecutor Nicole Blumberg mentioned.
In April, the state’s highest court docket dominated that Weinstein didn’t obtain a good trial – discovering the listening to was prejudiced by “egregious” improper rulings by the decide, together with a call to let girls testify about allegations that weren’t a part of the case.
Simply days after the landmark #MeToo ruling was overturned, he was taken to hospital, along with his lawyer Arthur Aidala describing him as “considerably of a prepare wreck health-wise” however nonetheless “sharp as a tack” mentally.
Jessica Mann leaves court docket after the listening to. Pic: AP
Weinstein, 72, has had cardiac points, diabetes, sleep apnoea and eye issues for a while, and was “in fixed ache”, Mr Aidala mentioned.
He entered court docket in a wheelchair pushed by a court docket officer for the preliminary listening to on Wednesday.
Weinstein had been serving a 23-year sentence after being convicted of sexually assaulting former Venture Runway manufacturing assistant Mimi Haley in 2006 and raping former aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013 following the landmark 2020 trial in New York.
He stays behind bars as he was additionally convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of one other rape. He was sentenced to 16 years in jail for that crime, and can also be interesting towards this conviction.
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Ms Blumberg advised the decide that Ms Mann, who was in court docket, is ready to testify once more and has mentioned she desires everybody to know that the defendant “could have energy” however “she has the reality”.
Ms Haley’s lawyer, Gloria Allred, advised reporters that her shopper has not determined whether or not she’s going to give proof a second time, as she discovered the expertise traumatising and painful. She was not in court docket, Ms Allred mentioned.
Learn extra: Harvey Weinstein – The autumn of the king of Hollywood
As soon as thought-about essentially the most highly effective man in Hollywood, the primary allegations towards Weinstein emerged in 2017.
Dozens of girls got here ahead claiming he bullied, pressured, coerced, or overpowered them whereas demanding sexual favours.
Mimi Haley’s lawyer Gloria Allred holding an indication earlier than chatting with reporters outdoors court docket. Pic: Reuters
Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek, and Lupita Nyong’o all accused him of sexual harassment, whereas actresses Asia Argento and Rose McGowan have been amongst others who accused him of rape.
They’re amongst greater than 80 girls who’ve accused him of sexual misconduct.
He was additionally accused of reaching settlements to maintain the tales quiet.
Weinstein has admitted his behaviour “triggered a number of ache”, however has maintained his innocence all through, saying any sexual exercise was consensual.
