Published on: April 26, 10:06 IST
Big news from New York: Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 conviction for rape and sexual assault has been thrown out by the state’s highest court. The Court of Appeals decided on Thursday that the trial wasn’t fair because the judge allowed women to testify about incidents that weren’t part of the charges Weinstein was facing. It was a close call, with the decision split 4-3, but it means there could be a new trial on the cards.
However, this ruling doesn’t change the fact that Weinstein is serving a 16-year sentence for rape in California, so he’s still behind bars at 72.
Back in 2020, Weinstein’s conviction was a big moment for the #MeToo movement, sparked by allegations against him in 2017. The trial found him guilty of sexually assaulting Miriam Haley in 2006 and raping Jessica Mann in 2013, landing him a hefty 23-year sentence.
But now, despite the setback, the fight for justice isn’t over. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s team is gearing up for another round in court against Weinstein.
Unsurprisingly, many of Weinstein’s accusers are furious about the decision, calling it a betrayal. Ashley Judd, an actress and one of Weinstein’s accusers, spoke out, saying she felt let down.
Weinstein’s lawyer, Arthur Aidala, sees things differently, though. He’s calling it a big win for anyone facing criminal charges in New York and says Weinstein is ready to tell his side of the story in a new trial. Weinstein has always claimed any sexual activity was consensual.
Not everyone is happy with the court’s decision, though. Some judges are worried it could set a dangerous precedent and undo years of progress in tackling sexual violence.
This isn’t the first time a #MeToo case has hit a roadblock. Remember when Bill Cosby got released from prison in 2021 after a court overturned his sexual assault conviction? It’s a reminder that the fight against sexual misconduct is far from over and that there’s still a lot of work to be done to ensure justice prevails.
