Harvey Weinstein: Shock in Hollywood with the cancellation of the conviction for sex crimes

The decision of the New York Court of Appeals that overturned Harvey Weinstein’s conviction caused a shock in Hollywood and beyond.

New York’s highest court has ruled for a former Hollywood producer that his 23-year prison sentence for raping and sexually assaulting six women resulted from a trial based on evidence not included in the case file.

The New York Court of Appeals spoke of an “unfair trial” and overturned Harvey Weinstein’s conviction. At the same time, he mentioned that the judge who presided over the case made a “critical mistake” that affected the outcome of the trial. It allowed prosecutors to call as witnesses women who testified against Harvey Weinstein. However, their charges were not directly related to the case he was on trial for.

“It is an abuse of judicial discretion to permit unexamined allegations of misconduct that damage a defendant’s character but shed no light on the criminal charges brought against him,” the majority of the Court of Appeals ruled.

Sexual assaults against actors

The Daily Mail reports that Harvey Weinstein’s original sentence of 23 years in prison was for sexually assaulting actress Jessica Mann and production assistant Mimi Haley.

The former Hollywood producer was convicted of similar attacks on “Sopranos” actress Annabella Ciora, costume designer Don Dunning, model Taral Wolfe and actress Lauren Marie Young.

“He used to rape me and send me chocolate penises”

In their depositions, the six women said they were lured to meet Weinstein for business and he sexually assaulted or even raped them.

As Annabella Siora complained, Weinstein raped her and sent her… chocolate penises and tranquilizers!

For her part, Taral Bulf claimed that in 2005 Weinstein masturbated in front of her in a New York club and later raped her in his apartment.

In 2023 he was sentenced to an additional 16 years in prison for rape

The former producer has also been charged in the UK with sexual assault dating back to 1996.

Harvey Weinstein, once a powerful Hollywood producer, was sentenced last year to 16 years in prison for raping an actress in 2013 in Los Angeles.

The 71-year-old former “king” of cinema – producer of award-winning hits such as “Pulp Fiction” – was already serving a 23-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2020 in New York of rape and sexual assault.

Weinstein said he plans to appeal the Los Angeles court’s decision.

“Weinstein is a powerful and predatory monster”

After weeks of grueling hearings, often interrupted by the sobs of the plaintiffs, the prosecutor in February 2023 described Weinstein as a powerful monster, a “predator” whose influence in Hollywood – the films he produced amounted to more than 330 nominated for an Oscar and honored with 81 statuettes – he long prevented his victims from speaking out, fearing consequences for their careers.

Defense attorneys disputed the testimony of the four plaintiffs, pointing to the absence of forensic evidence. The jury was divided. They found Weinstein guilty of all charges against one of the plaintiffs, acquitted him of charges against a second woman and did not rule on the charges against the other two.

Jolie and Paltrow have accused Weinstein of sexual assault

Journalistic investigations, which had revealed the first accusations in 2017, had sparked the global MeToo movement against sexual abuse and harassment.

Nearly 90 women, including Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Rosanna Arquette, have accused Harvey Weinstein of harassment, sexual assault or rape. But the statute of limitations had passed on many of those cases, some dating back to 1977.