Weinstein to hear new accusations against him

Entertainment Live: Fallen movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, indicted over two sexual assault allegations, is to be informed of new allegations against him Monday that could delay his trial and complicate his defense.

New York prosecutors announced on Thursday that they had filed a new indictment against the 67-year-old former producer. The original accusations against him were a catalyst for America’s #MeToo movement.

The document is expected to be made public in a state court on Monday, two weeks before jury selection for his trial is scheduled to start on September 9. According to US media the new indictment will include testimony from actress Annabella Sciorra, known for her star turn in the hit television series “The Sopranos.”

Sciorra helped trigger the #MeToo movement in October 2017 when she told The New Yorker magazine that Weinstein raped her at her home in Manhattan in 1993. Weinstein has always insisted his sexual relationships were consensual and is again expected to enter a not guilty plea on Monday.

Weinstein’s lawyers have denounced the new indictment as a “desperate” last-minute move and are expected to ask for the indictment to be dismissed. Bennett Gershman, a law professor at Pace University and a former prosecutor, said the judge will likely reject their request.

Dhaka 26 August (campuslive24.com)//MIH

---

---