'Sets dangerous precedent': Harvey Weinstein's accusers join Ashley Judd as actress slams overturning of NY rape conviction

NEW YORK, NEW YORK: Hollywood is not happy after a New York appeals court overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction.

Among the people who had accused Weinstein of assault, actress Ashley Judd expressed her disappointment on the overturning and said, "Oftentimes survivors say that the betrayal and the moral injury we suffer within the system is worse than the sexual body invasion we experienced in the first place.”

She told the BBC, "We know what happened and the truth is consistent," she said.

What did the court say while overturning Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction? 

The New York Appeals Court reached a four-three ruling, stating that Weinstein's 2020 New York trial had "erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes."

The ruling also pointed out that Weinstein was cross-examined in a way that portrayed him in a "highly prejudicial" light. "The remedy for these egregious errors is a new trial."

Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in the 2020 judgment, convicted for sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping Jessica Mann, a former aspiring actress. 

Harvey Weinstein's accusers express their disappointment

Gloria Allred, who represented Mimi Haleyi, also reacted to the overturning of the New York conviction, “It will be more difficult to convict those who victimize women and prey on them."

Adding, "Although victims have lost this battle, they have not lost the war."  The other accuser of Weinstein, Jessica Barth, told USA Today, "A tragic step backwards."

"It sets a dangerous precedent concerning sexual assault cases," said Barth and added, "Evidence of prior bad acts in order to prove a pattern of behavior is often allowed in criminal cases and should absolutely be allowed in sexual assault cases."

Caitlin Dulany, the alleged victim of Weinstein’s sexual assault in 1996 said, "Survivors will win in the end." She continued, "I am deeply saddened and absolutely devastated by today’s ruling,"

While Actress Katherine Kendall said, she continues "to stand proudly with the #MeToo movement, regardless of this or any other court ruling."

She added, "As we all know, victims of sexual assault who go up against powerful men rarely receive justice through our justice system."

Douglas H Wigdor, a lawyer representing eight Weinstein accusers, called the decision "a major step back in holding those accountable for acts of sexual violence."

"Courts routinely admit evidence of other uncharged acts where they assist juries in understanding issues concerning the intent, modus operandi or scheme of the defendant." 

A fresh trial will soon be announced by the DA's office in New York. Meanwhile, Weinstein will continue to serve prison time in Los Angeles conviction, where he was sentenced to 23 years sentence.