Harvey Weinstein’s rape right began Tuesday in a New York court, where the election of jury began with 70 prospective panelists – of which many told the judge directly that they could not be impartial.
Weinstein was rolled into the courtroom late in the morning and wore a book with the cover torn off, according to several media reports. When Judge Curti’s Farber asked the group to raise one hand if they felt they could not remain impartial, more than a dozen did, did, AP reported.
One of these was Mark Axelowitz, an actor who plays an prosecutor in the Robert De Niro-led movie “The Alto Knights.” After being dismissed, he said to AP: “I don’t like the guy, he’s a really bad guy.”
Prosecutor in New York tries Weinstein again after the State Appeal Court turned his conviction from 2020 last year and decided that wrong testimony and decisions related to his trial. Now 73, Weinstein has not guilty guilty and denies that he raped or sexually attacked someone.
He also appeals a rape of 2022 in Los Angeles, where a 16-year prison still stands, which has enabled the New York authorities to keep him while re-setting their own case. Two accusations from his original trial will be revoked, which derive from incidents in 2006 and 2013.
The trial is expected to last for several weeks after four days of jury choice.
