Prosecutors say they are still seeking further action against the Hollywood film producer.
A New York City judge has tentatively scheduled the start of the retrial of former Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein on rape and sexual assault charges for November 12.
Judge Curtis Farber said Friday he was open to an earlier start date in September, depending on the progress of pretrial discovery. Weinstein’s lawyers have said they want to move forward as quickly as possible.
Last week, prosecutors said they anticipated a new trial in November and told Farber they were still actively pursuing new charges against Weinstein.
The new accusers have not been publicly identified and prosecutors are seeking to shield certain evidence from public view as they prepare to search for a new grand jury.
Arthur Aidala, Weinstein’s lawyer, said at last week’s hearing that it was unfair for prosecutors to try to add more victims to the case after the conviction was overturned.
Weinstein, 72, has denied any wrongdoing and any non-consensual sexual encounter with anyone.
Jurors in Manhattan found him guilty of rape charges in February 2020, but the New York Court of Appeals threw out the conviction in April, concluding that Weinstein did not get a fair trial because a judge improperly allowed testimony from accusers he did not. was formally accused of assault. .
But her conviction was a milestone for the #MeToo movement, in which women have accused hundreds of men in entertainment, media, politics and other fields of sexual misconduct.
He was convicted of third-degree rape for attacking an aspiring actress and forcing himself on a TV and film production assistant in 2006. Weinstein has denied any wrongdoing.
Prosecutors said one of the accusers in that case, Jessica Mann, is prepared to testify again.
Last week, Floria Allred, lawyer for the second accuser, Mimi Haley, said her client had not yet decided whether to participate in the new trial.
Weinstein was also sentenced to 16 years in prison following a separate rape trial in California. The New York court’s decision did not affect that conviction and he has not yet begun serving his sentence in California.
He is being held on Rikers Island in New York City ahead of his retrial.
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
