Harvey Weinstein’s rape and sexual assault conviction has been overturned.
According to Reuters, the written verdict was given to Weinstein’s attorneys and did not specify what circumstances led to the decision.
This means that the Supreme Court of New York will hear arguments from Weinstein’s attorneys and prosecutors before deciding whether to sustain the conviction or order a new trial.
A lower appeals court confirmed the verdict in June, dismissing claims that the Manhattan trial judge made many mistakes that compromised the trial.
The appellate court stated in a 45-page opinion that trial Judge James Burke used his discretion correctly by allowing prosecutors to buttress their case with evidence from three women who accused Weinstein of abusing them but whose accusations did not result in charges in the New York case.
Weinstein, currently age 70, is presently serving a 23-year jail sentence in California, where he was extradited in 2021 to face sexual assault charges against five women in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills from 2004 to 2013.
Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to the accusations levelled against him.
