By Isabelle Wilson-
Once powerful Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein was granted an appeal Wednesday, more than two years after he was convicted of third-degree rape and other crimes.
Weinstein is currently behind bars at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles, where he is awaiting another trial on felony charges following his conviction for third-degree rape and criminal sexual assault in New York. He is currently serving a 23 year sentence for the alleged criminal offence.
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The defence argues that Judge Burke allowed several witnesses to testify about acts that, Aidala alleged, “Harvey was never charged with. As well as the fact there was one juror who has written a book about sexual predators that she lied about during jury selection.”
New York State of Appeals Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, made the ruling today, paving for oral arguments next year before the entire court, a court spokesman said.
The ruling follows a denial for an appeal from the Appellate Division, First Department court in June, when a five-judge panel found that trial judge Jim Burke’s actions were appropriate and did not warrant overturning Weinstein’s conviction.
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On Wednesday, New York’s highest court agreed to hear the disgraced 70 year old movie mogul’s case after the appellate division upheld his conviction in June.
The five-justice appellate panel unanimously ruled against overturning the verdict in which Weinstein was found guilty of rape and sexual assault in New York. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison.
In a statement through his spokesman, Weinstein said Wednesday that he is innocent.
“I am so grateful to my attorneys for working hard and smart on this,” he said. “Their hard work will help me prove my innocence in the end.”.
The full court could uphold the conviction or reverse the decision and vacate his conviction. The court could also order a new trial or modify his conviction by upholding some charges and vacating others.
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