Appeal court judges raise doubts about Harvey Weinstein’s conviction

Harvey Weinstein (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

An appeals court has criticised prosecutors for filling out Harvey Weinstein’s rape trial last year with what one judge deemed “incredibly prejudicial” evidence from women whose allegations were not part of the criminal charges against him — a strategy that could jeopardise the disgraced movie mogul’s conviction.

Members of a five-judge panel in New York state’s intermediate appeals court condemned Judge James Burke’s decision to allow the witnesses and for another ruling that cleared the way for prosecutors to confront Weinstein with evidence about other misbehaviour if he had gave evidence.