Weinstein pleads not guilty to predatory assault charges
HARVEY WEINSTEIN pleaded not guilty to two revised charges of predatory sexual assault yesterday as a judge postponed his trial until next year.
The hearing and amended charges were a legal manoeuvre by prosecutors designed to allow Annabella Sciorra, an actress who starred in The Sopranos, to give evidence at the trial. She has publicly accused the former Hollywood mogul of raping her in 1993.
Prosecutors are unable to charge Weinstein with Sciorra’s allegations because, under state law, the date of the alleged attack is too old. However, under the revised charges, they would be able to use the actress’s evidence in the trial to prove that Weinstein had a pattern of assaulting women.
The charges Weinstein faces relate to two other alleged victims.
One claims Weinstein raped her in 2013, the other that he forcibly performed a sex act in 2006.
The trial had been due to start next month but Judge James Burke postponed it until Jan 6 to give Weinstein’s lawyers more time to prepare.
Asked by the judge if he was ready for the trial, Weinstein laughed and said “not really”.
During the hearing the judge also scolded Weinstein for taking out his mobile phone. The judge said: “I’ve been informed you have taken your cell phone out. Please refrain from doing that.”
As Weinstein attempted to respond, the judge said: “It’s a court order. Don’t talk to me.”
Once one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, the film producer has been publicly accused of harassment and assault by more than 80 women, including movie stars Angelina Jolie and Ashley Judd.
The original accusations against him were a catalyst for the Metoo movement.
Weinstein has always insisted all his sexual relationships were consensual.
He is on bail of $1million (£818,000).
In court documents his lawyers called the latest development an “11thhour manoeuvre” that “raises significant legal issues”.
After the hearing, they said they would ask the judge to dismiss the latest revised charges, calling them a “desperate” attempt to salvage the prosecution case.
Donna Rotunno, one of Weinstein’s lawyers, said: “I think the case itself is weak.”
Separately, defence lawyers have asked an appeal court to move the trial out of New York to avoid a “circus-like atmosphere”.
It was unclear when the appeal court would consider the request.