Ex-Hollywood tycoon Harvey Weinstein, 70, is eligible to appeal his 2020 sex offense conviction. An appeals court in New York on Wednesday cleared the move, US media reported unanimously. “We are hopeful and grateful for this rare opportunity,” Weinstein spokesman Juda Engelmayer said in a statement on Wednesday.
A lot went wrong in the earlier trial and in the sentencing, Engelmayer continued. Weinstein emphasized his innocence in the statement, thanking his lawyers: “Your hard work will help me eventually prove my innocence.”
Partisan juror and biased judge
Weinstein’s lawyers said the ex-mogul was denied a fair trial. They justified their accusation with a supposedly biased juror and the alleged bias of Judge James Burke, among other things.
The lawyers initially failed on an appeal to the New York Court of Appeals in June. Now a higher body of the court complied with their request to challenge the verdict.
Jury had believed witness statements
Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison in March 2020 for rape and assault. The conviction marked a milestone in legal history. In the high-profile case that sparked the #MeToo movement, the jury believed the testimonies of several women, despite Weinstein’s pleas of innocence and a lack of evidence.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
