05 September 2024 , 13:58
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Harvey Weinstein’s two indecent assault charges in the UK have been discontinued, the CPS has announced in a new statement as there is not a ’realistic prospect of conviciton’
Two cases of indecent assault brought against Harvey Weinstein have been discontinued.
The Crown Prosecution Service said it is discontinuing two indecent assault charges brought against Harvey Weinstein in 2022 because there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction. Former Hollywood film producer Weinstein, 72, was facing two charges of indecent assault against a woman, now in her 50s, in London dating back to 1996. He continues to deny that he raped or sexually assaulted anybody.
In a statement, Frank Ferguson, Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division said: "Following a review of the evidence in this case, the CPS has decided to discontinue criminal proceedings against Harvey Weinstein. The CPS has a duty to keep all cases under continuous review and we have decided that there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.
"We have explained our decision to all parties. We would always encourage any potential victims of sexual assault to come forward and report to police and we will prosecute wherever our legal test is met." At the time of his arrest, London’s Metropolitan Police Force said it had been alleged two offences were committed between July 31 and August 31, 1996. Weinstein is currently serving a prison sentence in the United States after being convicted of sexual assault at a Los Angeles court in 2020.
The disgraced movie mogul is currently awaiting a retrial for the 2020 convictions of first-degree criminal sexual assault and third-degree rape were overturned in April after the New York Court of Appeals ruled he didn’t receive a fair trial. In July, after a tentative date of 12 November was set for the producer’s retrial, his attorneys told reporters they were hoping to get him transferred back to Bellevue Hospital Prison as his diet at Rikers Island was causing health issues due to the high sugar levels being served. Currently, he remains in custody in New York.
In 2020, Weinstein was found guilty of first-degree criminal sexual assault and third-degree rape based on the testimony of production assistant Miriam Haley and former actress Jessica Mann but the convictions were overturned this year after an appellate court ruled the judge prejudiced the jury by allowing women to testify about sexual harassment and assault allegations that were not part of the case behind heard.
But even if the retrial leads to an acquittal, the former Miramax boss won’t be freed as he is also serving a 16-year sentence after being convicted on three counts of sexual assault in a Los Angeles court. After the retrial, Weinstein is set to serve a 16-year sentence in California. More than 80 people have made rape and misconduct claims about Weinstein which date back as far as the late 1970s.