The 2020 rape conviction of former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has been overturned by the New York state Court of Appeals. This decision, announced on Thursday by People, indicates the possibility of a new trial in the future. The appeals court determined that the judge in the criminal case displayed bias towards Weinstein by making improper rulings, including allowing women to testify about allegations that were not relevant to the case, as reported by NBC News.
“We conclude that the trial court erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes because that testimony served no material non-propensity purpose,” the court said.
“The court compounded that error when it ruled that defendant, who had no criminal history, could be cross examined about those allegations as well as numerous allegations of misconduct that portrayed defendant in a highly prejudicial light,” it said.
NBC News stated that a representative from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office affirmed their dedication to pursuing a retrial of the case.
We “will do everything in our power to retry this case, and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault,” the spokesperson said.
BREAKING: Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction overturned by NY appeals court, finding the judge made improper rulings.
Weinstein will remain imprisoned because he was convicted in LA in 2022 of another rape and sentenced to 16 years in prison. https://t.co/xpKTPhTGrA
— NBC News (@NBCNews) April 25, 2024