Weinstein lawyers in appeal for leniency

Harvey Weinstein’s lawyers have argued he deserves mercy for his already “historic fall from grace” and serious health issues, as prosecutors seek a severe punishment for the disgraced movie mogul.

In a letter filed in advance of Weinstein’s sentencing today for his New York City rape conviction, his defence team asked Judge James Burke to give him only five years behind bars – a far cry from the potential 29-year maximum term.

A man who was once admired for putting part of his fortune into charitable causes during his rise to one of Hollywood’s most powerful producers now “cannot walk outside without being heckled”, the papers say.

“He has lost his means to earn a living. Simply put, his fall from grace has been historic, perhaps unmatched in the age of social media.”

Even if the 67-year-old defendant is given a lesser term, “the grave reality is that Mr Weinstein may not even outlive that term” making it “a de facto life sentence,” the papers say.

After his February 24 conviction, he was sent to Bellevue Hospital amid concerns about high blood pressure and heart palpitations for more than a week before being transferred late last week to an infirmary at the notorious Riker Island jail complex.

In addition to heart issues, Weinstein’s lawyers have said he is dealing with the ramifications of unsuccessful back surgery stemming from a car crash last summer and a condition that requires injections in his eyes so he does not go blind.

Prosecutors wrote that based on “a lifetime of abuse toward others, sexual and otherwise,” the judge should impose a sentence that “reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s offences” and punishes him for “his total lack of remorse for the harm he has done”.

Harvey Weinstein