British prosecutors have formally discontinued indecent assault prices in opposition to former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, concluding there isn’t a practical prospect of conviction. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had initially licensed prices two years in the past, associated to an alleged assault in London in August 1996. The accuser, now in her 50s, had introduced forth the case in opposition to Weinstein in the course of the top of the #MeToo motion.
“Following a evaluation of the proof on this case, the CPS has determined to discontinue felony proceedings in opposition to Harvey Weinstein. The CPS has an obligation to maintain all instances below steady evaluation, and we now have decided that there isn’t a longer a practical prospect of conviction,” mentioned Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS’ Particular Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, as quoted by Reuters. Including that every one concerned events had been knowledgeable of the choice, CPS additionally issued a press release and mentioned, “We’d at all times encourage any potential victims of sexual assault to return ahead and report back to police, and we are going to prosecute wherever our authorized take a look at is met.”
The information comes within the wake of Weinstein’s authorized battles within the US, the place he was sentenced to 23 years in jail after being convicted of rape and sexual assault in 2020—a verdict seen as pivotal for the #MeToo motion. Nevertheless, that conviction was overturned by the New York Court docket of Appeals in April 2024, citing unfair trial situations. A retrial is predicted later this yr.
Weinstein was additionally convicted of rape in Los Angeles in 2022 and sentenced to 16 years. This conviction stays intact, and Weinstein has but to serve the California sentence. He continues to disclaim all allegations, sustaining that every one sexual encounters have been consensual.
“Following a evaluation of the proof on this case, the CPS has determined to discontinue felony proceedings in opposition to Harvey Weinstein. The CPS has an obligation to maintain all instances below steady evaluation, and we now have decided that there isn’t a longer a practical prospect of conviction,” mentioned Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS’ Particular Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, as quoted by Reuters. Including that every one concerned events had been knowledgeable of the choice, CPS additionally issued a press release and mentioned, “We’d at all times encourage any potential victims of sexual assault to return ahead and report back to police, and we are going to prosecute wherever our authorized take a look at is met.”
The information comes within the wake of Weinstein’s authorized battles within the US, the place he was sentenced to 23 years in jail after being convicted of rape and sexual assault in 2020—a verdict seen as pivotal for the #MeToo motion. Nevertheless, that conviction was overturned by the New York Court docket of Appeals in April 2024, citing unfair trial situations. A retrial is predicted later this yr.
Weinstein was additionally convicted of rape in Los Angeles in 2022 and sentenced to 16 years. This conviction stays intact, and Weinstein has but to serve the California sentence. He continues to disclaim all allegations, sustaining that every one sexual encounters have been consensual.
