Harvey Weinstein Appeals 2023 Conviction, Citing Trial Errors
Mixed Verdicts in 2022 Trial Lead to Weinstein’s Appeal and New Trial Request
According to CBS News Harvey Weinstein has appealed his 2023 conviction for sexually assaulting a model actress in a Los Angeles hotel room over a decade ago. His attorneys filed the appeal on Friday arguing procedural errors in the trial. Weinstein, 72 was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the assault on Jane Doe No. 1 and is seeking a new trial.
In the original trial that concluded in December 2022, the jury found Weinstein guilty on multiple charges related to the 2013 assault of Jane Doe No. 1 but could not reach a unanimous decision on three additional charges. One of these charges involved Jennifer Siebel Newsom a filmmaker and the wife of California Governor Gavin Newsom. This indecision led to a mistrial on those counts. Additionally, Weinstein was acquitted of a felony sexual battery charge involving Jane Doe No. 3, a masseuse related to an alleged 2010 incident though the jury deadlocked on a lesser charge regarding the same woman. Prosecutors decided not to pursue further action on these deadlocked charges concluding that the misdemeanor count did not warrant additional court proceedings. Despite the mixed outcomes, Weinstein’s 16-year sentence stood firm for the charges on which he was convicted.
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72-Year-Old Disgraced Producer Appeals 16-Year Sentence for 2013 Assault, Following Recent NY Conviction Overturn! (PHOTO: The New York Times)
Weinstein Seeks Retrial in L.A. Following Overturned New York Conviction
Weinstein’s appeal in Los Angeles follows a significant legal victory in New York where his 2020 conviction on rape charges was overturned by an appeals court in April 2023. In that case Weinstein had been sentenced to 23 years in prison and the appeals court’s decision led to the anticipation of a retrial. Weinstein’s legal team hopes for a similar outcome in Los Angeles aiming to highlight potential flaws in the trial’s proceedings and secure a retrial. As Weinstein continues to fight his convictions his cases remain a symbol of the #MeToo movement reflecting broader societal issues of sexual misconduct and accountability in powerful industries. His appeal could potentially reshape his legal standing and impact the ongoing discourse about justice for sexual assault survivors.
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