Less than a month into the trial of Harvey Weinstein, the Manhattan prosecutor has asked to amend the indictment, to add allegations of sexual assault against the former film producer, said Friday 16 August a lawyer from Harvey Weinstein.
Such an amendment, if accepted by a grand jury as required by the US procedure, could result in the postponement of the trial of the iconic #MeToo backlogged producer, scheduled to begin at the Manhattan court on Sept. 9.
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Harvey Weinstein, 67, has been charged with sexual abuse ranging from harassment to rape by more than 80 women, including many celebrities. But he was charged with two assaults only, on two different women, one for a rape in 2013 and the other for a forced fellatio in 2006.
The new indictment that prosecutor Cyrus Vance has submitted for validation to a grand jury includes allegations of a third woman, who accuses the producer of sexual assault 25 years ago, the facts now prescribed, has explained in essence the lawyer, Damon Cheronis.
Another actress accuses Harvey Weinstein of rape
He did not specify the name of the woman whose prosecutor would like to include the allegations to strengthen the prosecution case. According to several American media, it would be Annabella Sciorra, known for its role in the television series The Sopranos . Now 59, she accused Harvey Weinstein of raping her at home in the early 1990s in an interview with the New Yorker in late October 2017.
Damon Cheronis, however, asserted that the addition at the last minute of allegations now prescribed in the indictment would be "unconstitutional". If the grand jury validates a new act, "we will ask for the prosecution to be dropped," he added.
The Manhattan attorney's office was asked for help and did not react immediately. The grand jury is expected to rule on the August 26th motion to amend the indictment.