UK drops indecent assault charges against Harvey Weinstein: Report
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) of the UK has decided not to proceed with criminal charges against disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The decision was made due to a lack of "a realistic prospect of conviction." Initially, in June 2022, the CPS had approved two charges of indecent assault against a woman by Weinstein, allegedly occurring in London in 1996. However, these charges will now be dropped.
CPS explained the decision to all parties
Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, stated, "Following a review of the evidence in this case, the CPS has decided to discontinue criminal proceedings against 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." He added that their decision has been explained to all parties involved.
Weinstein's legal victories and ongoing trials
This development marks another legal win for Weinstein, who is currently serving a 23-year sentence. Earlier this year, his 2020 rape conviction was overturned by the New York Court of Appeals in a 4-3 ruling. The court determined that allowing women not directly involved in the case to testify about Weinstein's behavior was prejudicial. A new trial has been tentatively scheduled for November.
Weinstein's previous convictions and denials
In October 2022, a Los Angeles trial resulted in Weinstein being found guilty on three counts of rape and sexual assault, leading to a 16-year prison sentence. Despite these convictions, the 72-year-old has consistently denied engaging in any non-consensual sexual encounters. In February 2020, Manhattan jurors found him guilty on rape charges but the New York Court of Appeals overturned this conviction in April due to an unfair trial.
