The sentence imposed in 2020 by a popular jury, which He sentenced him to 23 years in prisonwas Named by the New York Court of Appeals in April 2024 by defects of form.
In wheelchair, with a book in his hand and dressed in suit and blue tie, Weinstein, 73, entered the courtroom to attend the jury selection that will determine its fate.
The founder of the Miramax producer, along with his brother Bob, will be tried again by sexually assault the former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006, violating the candidate for actress Jessica Mann in 2013 and for a new accusation for another alleged sexual assault in 2006 in a Manhattan hotel.
Weinstein expects the case to be “with a new look” almost eight years after the investigations of the New York Times and the New Yorker They precipitated their fall and the emergence of the #MeToo movement, considered as the Liberation of the word of many victims of sexual abuse at work.
Arrested in the Rikers Island prisonin New York, Weinstein currently celebrates another 16 -year sentence imposed by a Los Angeles court for rape and sexual assault in 2013 against a European actress.
Who was a powerful producer of cinematographic successes as Sex, lies and video, Pulp fiction either Shakespeare passionatehas appeared visibly weakened in the last audiences, Affected by bone marrow cancer and heart problemsbald, pale and in a wheelchair, although always with a challenging look.
In the Fox 5 chain, his lawyer Arthur Aidala declared that the defendant also suffers a “horrible Infection in the mouth, in the throat … and it is hard for him to speak”
Also read: Harvey Weinstein: the audience, the video call and the accusation of 11 new sexual crimes
“New look”
Aidala hopes that the trial of his defendant, which will last around six weeks, “will be very different from the attitude of New York, the state of New York and I think that of the whole country.”
“Five years ago there were demonstrationspeople shouted ‘is a rapist’ (…) people were very against him, “he added.” I think all that has calmed down, “he said.
Described by his accusers as a predator who used his career maker status in the film industry for Obtain sexual favors of actresses or assistants “Most of the time in hotel rooms,” Weinstein has always argued that relationships were spoiled.
More than 80 women have accused him of harassmentsexual assault or rape, including Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ashley Judd.
Read more: Weinstein victims will receive US $ 19 million compensation
In 2020, the New York jury declared it guilty of two of five positions: sexual assault to Mimi Haleyi and the rape of Jessica Mann.
However, the trial and sentence of 23 years in prison They were annulled in April 2024 by four votes in favor and three against Of the magistrates of the Court of Appeals of New York, who alleged that the judge had accepted testimonies of women who allegedly suffered abuses by Weinstein, but who were not part of the case.
“It really illustrates the challenges faced by victims in their search for justice,” said Laura Palumbo, of the National Center for Sexual Violence Resources.
The three alleged victims are expected to testify before the court.
Since the emergence of #MeToo there has been a significant increase in complaints of sexual abuse and harassment, particularly in countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Mexico. Actors such as the Frenchman Gérard Depardieu or the American Bill Cosby have been seated on the bench of the accused by their alleged victims.