Harvey Weinstein's 2020 sex crime conviction overturned in New York.

   

Former film producer Harvey Weinstein appears in a Los Angeles courtroom in October 2022.

Etienne Laurent/Getty Images

On Thursday morning, the New York State Supreme Court overturned former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's 2020 sex crime conviction. and ordered a new trial. Weinstein is serving a 23-year sentence in New York based on that conviction. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office told NPR it plans to reinvestigate the case.

 

In a 4-3 decision, the New York State Court of Appeals ruled that Weinstein did not receive a fair trial, in part because the judge allowed testimony from women whose claims were irrelevant. (A total of more than 100 women have made public accusations against Weinstein.)

These women testified in court as "Molineux witnesses" or "prior offense witnesses" — something that was allowed in New York in certain situations as early as 1900. . . Critics and legal experts say the application of the "Molineux rule" can be highly subjective and leave decisions more open to challenge..

Attorney Douglas Wigdor, who represented eight of Harvey Weinstein's alleged victims, including two Molineux witnesses in the New York criminal trial, told NPR in a written statement Thursday: "Today's decision is a significant step back in the prosecution of these acts. .Courts routinely admit evidence without other charges if it helps the jury understand the defendant's intent, procedure or plan, requiring a new trial for the victims..

How the 'Molineux Rule' Allowed Certain Witnesses in Harvey Weinstein's Trial

Now it's up to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. start a new lawsuit against Weinstein. Bragg is currently involved in another very high-profile case: the New York trial of former President Donald Trump, who was charged with 34 counts of first-degree forgery. A spokesperson for the DA's office told NPR in a written statement Thursday, "We are doing everything we can to reexamine this case and remain unwavering in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault.".

Despite the New York court's ruling, Weinstein's second sentence remains in effect for now. In February 2023, a Los Angeles judge sentenced Weinstein to 16 years in prison for rape and sexual assault. This sentence is to be served consecutively to the imprisonment in New York. As of Thursday morning, Weinstein was being held at the Mohawk Correctiona

l Facility in New York state.

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