In another case against former US film producer Harvey Weinstein (69) for sexual offenses, one of eleven charges was dropped. The 69-year-old’s attorneys had filed a motion in the Los Angeles court that three counts of statute of limitations should be removed, but the judge in charge only complied in one case. It concerned an alleged sexual assault in a hotel in Beverly Hills in May 2010.
Overall, the trial in California revolves around allegations of five women, including rape, in a period from 2004 to 2013. Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison last year in New York for rape and sexual assault. He was taken to Los Angeles last week, where he pleaded not guilty in court.
Lawyer wants acquittal
His lawyer Mark Werksman spoke of a victory for his client after Thursday’s hearing. Werksman told the German Press Agency that they were grateful that the judge deleted count 5. This means that one of the five alleged victims has now been excluded from the process.
“We expect that the other points will be rejected in the course of the procedure,” said Werksman. “Mr. Weinstein is innocent and we are confident that he will be acquitted.”
The California trial must begin within four months of the transfer. A specific date for the start of the process was initially not known on Thursday. The next hearing on the case is scheduled for mid-September. (SDA)