Judge declines to dismiss Harvey Weinstein sex assault charges

A NEW York judge has declined to dismiss sexual assault charges against Harvey Weinstein, rejecting the latest push from the disgraced film producer’s lawyers to have his indictment thrown out.

Judge James Burke’s ruling buoyed a prosecution that has appeared on rocky ground in recent months amid a prolonged defence effort to raise doubts about the case and the police investigation.

Weinstein’s lawyers argued the case had been “irreparably tainted” by a detective’s alleged coaching of a potential witness and one of the accusers.

They also said the grand jury should have been shown evidence that Weinstein had exchanged friendly emails with his two accusers after the alleged attacks.

Prosecutors insisted their case was strong.

Weinstein’s defence lawyer Benjamin Brafman said he was disappointed with Judge Burke’s ruling, but said he remains confident Weinstein will be “completely exonerated” at trial.

“We intend to vigorously defend this case to the best of our ability,” Mr Brafman told reporters after the hearing.

Weinstein has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex.

He pleaded not guilty and is free on one million dollar bail.

He left court without commenting.

Weinstein is charged with raping an unidentified female acquaintance in his hotel room in 2013 and performing a forcible sex act on a woman in 2006.

Images of Weinstein, the producer of Oscar winners Shakespeare In Love and The English Patient, in handcuffs last spring were seen by many women as a cathartic moment in the #MeToo reckoning.