Harvey Weinstein accusers react with disgust as court overturns his rape ... trends now
Harvey Weinstein accusers have reacted after New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned his 2020 rape conviction.
Douglas H. Wigdor, who represented two of the witnesses at the New York trial, called the court's decision a 'step back in holding those accountable for acts of sexual violence.
He added: 'Courts routinely admit evidence of other uncharged acts where they assist juries in understanding issues concerning the modus operandi or scheme of the defendant.
'The jury was instructed on the relevance of this testimony and overturning the verdict is tragic in that it will require the victims to endure yet another trial.'
Actress Katherine Kendall, another of Weinstein's accusers, said she was 'flabbergasted' at the decision.
Harvey Weinstein accusers have reacted after New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned his 2020 rape conviction
Katherine Kendall, one of Weinstein's accusers, said she was 'flabbergasted' at the decision
She told The New York Times it was 'a terrible reminder that victims of sexual assault just don’t get justice.'
'I’m completely let down by the justice system right now,' Kendall added.
The court found the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with 'egregious' improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
'We conclude that the trial court erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes,' the court’s 4-3 decision said. 'The remedy for these egregious errors is a new trial.'
It is unclear if the bombshell ruling will free him from prison as he still has another conviction in Los Angeles for a separate rape.
Actress Ashley Judd, who was one of the first women to publicly accuse Weinstein of rape, also spoke against the court's decision Thursday, saying it is unfair to survivors.
'We still live in our truth. And we know what happened,' she told The New York Times.
The state Court of Appeals ruling reopens a painful chapter in America’s reckoning with sexual misconduct by powerful figures
