Prosecutors say they’re looking for a brand new indictment in opposition to disgraced Hollywood film producer over sexual assault claims.
Prosecutors in america have mentioned they anticipate a November retrial for Harvey Weinstein as they examine “extra violent sexual assaults” they are saying have been dedicated by the disgraced Hollywood film producer.
Prosecutor Nicole Blumberg mentioned in a listening to in New York state felony court docket in Manhattan on Tuesday that the extra assaults Weinstein is accused of committing have been nonetheless throughout the statute of limitations to be charged as crimes.
She advised Justice Curtis Farber that prosecutors haven’t but introduced their findings to a grand jury and mentioned she couldn’t present the court docket with a timeline for when their investigation will probably be full.
“The persons are nonetheless investigating in a trauma-informed matter,” Blumberg mentioned. “That’s an ongoing course of.”
Weinstein was discovered guilty of rape and sexual assault in 2020 in a milestone for the #MeToo motion, through which ladies accused tons of of males in leisure, media, politics and different fields of sexual misconduct.
Greater than 80 ladies had come ahead to accuse Weinstein of crimes and sexual misconduct.
A jury in February 2020 discovered the 72-year-old Miramax movie studio co-founder sexually assaulted former manufacturing assistant Miriam Haley in 2006 and raped aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013.
He was sentenced to 23 years in jail, however the New York Court of Appeals in April found that Choose James Burke, who presided over the trial, made a vital mistake by permitting three ladies to testify about alleged sexual assaults by Weinstein that weren’t a part of the felony fees in opposition to him.
The court docket mentioned that testimony about “prior dangerous acts” violated Weinstein’s proper to a good trial.
Weinstein has denied having non-consensual encounters with anybody.
Throughout Tuesday’s court docket listening to, his lawyer Arthur Aidala mentioned it was unfair for prosecutors to hunt so as to add extra victims to the case after the conviction was overturned and advised the investigation was a delay tactic from prosecutors.
Weinstein is affected by a number of medical issues whereas being held in solitary confinement at New York Metropolis’s Rikers Island jail, Aidala mentioned.
“As soon as once more, we have now the person and we’re searching for a criminal offense,” he advised the court docket. “We’ve obtained the ‘1-800-Get-Harvey’ hotline.”
Blumberg responded that the workplace is actively pursuing claims of rape that occurred in Manhattan throughout the statute of limitations.
She mentioned some potential survivors that weren’t able to step ahead throughout Weinstein’s first New York trial might have indicated they’re now prepared to testify.
“There’s actually no delay ways on our half,” the prosecutor mentioned. “We’re continuing in essentially the most expeditious method.”
She mentioned the prosecution’s plan is to proceed to trial within the fall, telling the decide, “November could be a sensible timeframe.”
The subsequent pre-trial listening to was set for July 19.