On Monday, the American film producer, Harvey Weinstein, resumed his 23-year prison sentence after being convicted of rape and sexual assault, considering that his rights to defend himself were not respected.
The attorneys of Weinstein, who has been in prison since the ruling in March 2020, considered that the New York State Supreme Court had allowed a number of women to testify about the alleged product assaults despite the lack of explanation of the facts they discussed or the lack of sufficient evidence to bring them to court. According to the French newspaper “Le Figaro”.
Six women testified in favor of the prosecutor during this trial, which was held in New York and received wide media attention, and confirmed that “Weinstein sexually assaulted them.”
While Weinstein faces charges from about 90 women of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or rape, his trial did not include two assaults cases, the first case of the rape of actress Jessica Mann in 2003, and the second forcing him, former production assistant Mimi Haley, to accept sexual practices with him in 2006.
Weinstein’s agents also considered in the 166-page appeal that a juror had authored a book on men with aggressive behavior toward young women, which offended the impartiality the jury was supposed to exhibit.
The lawyers also indicated that “they were unable to summon their sexual assault expert to testify, even though the defense was able to seek the testimony of Barbara Zeff.”
Commenting on the two victims’ continuing relationships with Weinstein after their assault, the doctor explained to the jury that “victims of sexual assault often continue their relationships with their aggressor.”
The defense attorneys believed that “Weinstein’s fame and the widespread media coverage of the case were behind the judge’s issuance of a” very harsh “ruling against the former producer, despite the fact that he had a clean criminal record until then.”
Weinstein was found guilty in February 2020 of committing a criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree, in a landmark ruling that constituted a victory for the “Me To” anti-sexual harassment movement that arose after the Weinstein scandals exposed.
Weinstein, who is 69 years old, is charged with rape and sexual assault against five women, who is in custody and is subject to heavy surveillance in the north of the US state of New York, as well as charges of rape and sexual assault against five women.
A hearing is scheduled for April 12 to decide whether he should be extradited to California authorities for trial on the charges.