Weinstein loses bid for case dismissal

A US judge ruled on Thursday that the sexual assault case against Harvey Weinstein can go ahead, rejecting a defence motion to dismiss the charges facing the disgraced Hollywood mogul who has become the face of the #MeToo movement.

Judge James Burke set the next pretrial hearing in the criminal case against the 66year-old Weinstein for March 7.

“We are obviously disappointed that the charges were not dismissed today,” Weinstein’s attorney, Ben Brafman, said after a brief hearing in Manhattan Criminal Court.

“I still believe the charges need to be dismissed.”

Brafman had argued that the case should be tossed out because of misconduct by police and prosecutors.

“This is not about the MeToo movement,” Brafman, one of America’s most celebrated defence attorneys, said.

“It’s a specific criminal case,” he said.

Weinstein is facing five counts over an alleged rape in March 2013 and a forced act of oral sex in 2006.

The producer of Pulp Fiction, Shakespeare in Love and other hit movies insists that all of his sexual liaisons were consensual and is free on $1m (R14.3m) bail after his arrest in May.

Weinstein, a twice-married father of five, could face life in prison if convicted.

He has been accused by more than 80 women of sexual misconduct but is only facing charges in connection with accusations by two women.

Burke dismissed one charge against Weinstein earlier this year but he flatly rejected the defence motion on Thursday to toss out the other five counts.

“The court finds that there is no basis for the defendant’s claim of prosecutorial or law enforcement misconduct in the proceedings,” the judge wrote.

“The motion to dismiss on these grounds is denied.”