NEW YORK — Prosecutors are asking a Manhattan decide to consolidate the 2 intercourse crime instances that Harvey Weinstein faces in New York right into a single trial this 12 months — a transfer that the disgraced film mogul’s attorneys oppose.
Manhattan District Legal professional Alvin Bragg’s workplace argued in courtroom filings launched Friday that the instances have important overlap as they contain comparable felony statutes, witnesses, professional testimony and documentary proof.
They are saying separate trials could be “terribly inefficient and burdensome” and waste judicial sources.
“There’s a sturdy public curiosity in consolidating these indictments for trial as a result of separate trials would require duplicative, prolonged, and costly proceedings that will needlessly eat judicial and get together sources,” the workplace wrote in its filings.
Weinstein is awaiting retrial on two intercourse costs stemming from his landmark #MeToo case after the state’s highest courtroom overturned his 2020 conviction earlier this 12 months.
He additionally pleaded not responsible final month to a new intercourse crime cost wherein prosecutors say he compelled oral intercourse on a lady in a Manhattan resort in spring 2006.
Weinstein’s attorneys, in courtroom filings submitted earlier this month, argued the instances ought to stay separate.
They mentioned prosecutors try to “increase the scope” of the court-ordered retrial and remodel it into “a wholly new continuing” by together with the brand new costs.
“Having disadvantaged Defendant of a good trial as soon as, the Individuals unapologetically—certainly, unabashedly—search to take action once more by smuggling an extra cost into the case for the improper function of bolstering the credibility of the complainant within the 2024 indictment,” Weinstein’s attorneys wrote.
A decide is predicted to contemplate the arguments at a listening to later this month.
Weinstein, who has been in custody since his conviction, was additionally convicted of rape in Los Angeles in 2022, although his attorneys have appealed.
The 72-year-old co-founded the movie and tv manufacturing corporations Miramax and The Weinstein Firm and, produced movies resembling “Shakespeare in Love” and “The Crying Sport.”
Manhattan prosecutors, of their filings, laid out a few of their plans for the upcoming retrial, which had been slated to open Nov. 12.
They mentioned they intend to name 12 to fifteen witnesses to testify on points related to each the brand new and outdated costs, together with the victims and corroborating witnesses.
Prosecutors mentioned they’ll additionally name on consultants with information of Weinstein’s “standing and affect within the leisure trade” each with the intention to “set up the ability imbalance” between the once-powerful producer and the victims, lots of whom labored within the trade.
Additionally they anticipate testimony from a photographer who can corroborate testimony from the victims about “distinctive options” of Weinstein’s physique, one thing that was additionally a spotlight throughout his prior trial.
Weinstein’s attorneys, in the meantime, complained that prosecutors had lengthy been conscious of the allegations within the newest felony indictment but “held this case of their again pocket for years.”
They mentioned Bragg’s workplace had been involved with the most recent accuser going again to Weinstein’s unique trial and that she’s modified her tales about her interactions with Weinstein through the years.
Lindsay Goldbrum, an lawyer that represents the lady, did not instantly reply to an electronic mail looking for remark Friday.
She’s beforehand mentioned the lady has by no means made her accusation public and doesn’t need to be recognized for now.
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Observe Philip Marcelo at twitter.com/philmarcelo.
