Harvey Weinstein launches appeal against rape convictions

Lawyers for the convicted sex offender have claimed that the trial was unfair.

Havey Weinstein's lawyers have asked for the Hollywood producer's rape convictions to be reversed. Representatives for Weinstein have argued that the film mogul was denied a fair hearing as the trial was “permeated with negative publicity about him and his alleged relationships with women”. Additionally, they claimed that the conditions surrounding the trial were "carnival-like". The legal paper reads: “Mr Weinstein had a right to a fair trial by an impartial jury. The trial court should have exercised the utmost vigilance in protecting this most important right of the defendant. “Instead, the trial court was cavalier in its obligation to safeguard this right and the consequences for Mr Weinstein were disastrous.” The document also claims that one of the jurors in the trial was biased against Weinstein. The juror in question had written an autobiographical book about "the predations of older men against younger women”. Weinstein's lawyers have asked the court to dismiss his third-degree rape charge and reverse his convictions. They have also requested another trial to be ordered for a single count of first degree criminal sexual act. Last year, a judge sentenced Weinstein to 23 years in prison for a number of convictions including one count of third-degree rape and one count of sexual assault in the first degree. His criminal charges include rape, criminal sex act, sexual abuse and sexual misconduct. The allegations levied against the producer by dozens of women led to the #MeToo movement. During his downfall, women all over the world shared their own experiences of sexual assault. He is currently in custody at Wende Correctional Facility in Alden, New York. Californian prosecutors are attempting to extradite him to Los Angeles to face additional charges. His extradition hearing will take place on 9 April.