The ruling is the second major #MeToo setback in the last two years and reopens a painful chapter in America’s reckoning with sexual misconduct by powerful figures.
New York’s highest court overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with “egregious” improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
In a stinging dissent, Judge Madeline Singas wrote that the majority was “whitewashing the facts to conform to a he-said/she-said narrative,” and said the Court of Appeals was continuing a “disturbing trend of overturning juries’ guilty verdicts in cases involving sexual violence.” He will remain imprisoned because he was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape and sentenced to 16 years in prison. Weinstein was acquitted in Los Angeles on charges involving one of the women who testified in New York.
Allegations against Weinstein, the once powerful and feared studio boss behind such Oscar winners as “Pulp Fiction” and “Shakespeare in Love,” ushered in the #MeToo movement. Dozens of women came forward to accuse Weinstein, including famous actresses such as Ashley Judd and Uma Thurman. His New York trial drew intense publicity, with protesters chanting “rapist” outside the courthouse.
Weinstein wanted to testify, but opted not to because Burke’s ruling would’ve meant answering questions about more than two-dozen alleged acts of misbehavior dating back four decades, Aidala said. They included fighting with his movie producer brother, flipping over a table in anger and snapping at waiters and yelling at his assistants.
A lawyer for the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which prosecuted the case, argued that the judge’s rulings were proper and that the extra evidence and testimony he allowed was important to provide jurors context about Weinstein’s behaviour and the way he interacted with women.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ex-Trump lawyer should be disbarred for his role in 2020 election, says judgeJudge recommends John Eastman, facing 11 disciplinary charges, lose his California law license over efforts to keep Trump in power
Read more »
Trump rails against ‘migrant crime’ and ‘rigged’ 2020 election at Wisconsin rallyThousands show up in Green Bay where ex-president attacks ‘fake media’ and ‘tyrants’ in state where he lost to Biden four years ago
Read more »
Government data shows more than 12,000 Queensland teaching employees have quit since 2020According to data revealed by the Queensland Education Minister in parliament, at least 12,375 of the state's teachers have quit their jobs since 2020.
Read more »
Trump Appeals Denial of Immunity in Effort to Overturn 2020 ElectionThe special counsel urges the justices to reject Donald Trump's bid for immunity from prosecution in the case charging him with attempting to overturn the 2020 election. The case is set to be argued on April 25th.
Read more »
Carmakers paid huge CO2 fines to the EU in 2020, but barely anything since7NEWS brings you the latest local news from Australia and around the world. Stay up to date with all of the breaking sport, politics, entertainment, finance, weather and business headlines. Today's news, live updates & all the latest breaking stories from 7NEWS.
Read more »
Global row erupts after Chinese swim team doping allegations in lead up to Tokyo 2020 OlympicsAriarne Titmus was on the Aussie relay team that claimed bronze against a record-breaking Chinese squad in the 2020 Olympics.
Read more »