British prosecutors have announced their decision not to pursue criminal charges of indecent assault against former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The Crown Prosecution Service stated that they have discontinued proceedings against Weinstein due to the lack of a realistic prospect of conviction.
The CPS had previously authorized police to file charges against Weinstein in relation to an alleged indecent assault that reportedly occurred in London in 1996. Despite this, the decision has now been made to cease pursuing the case.
In a statement, the CPS emphasized the importance of encouraging potential victims of sexual assault to come forward and report to the police. They reiterated their commitment to prosecuting cases where the legal test is met.
Weinstein, who is currently in custody in New York, is awaiting retrial on rape and sexual assault charges in Manhattan. This follows a brief court appearance related to California's request to extradite him there.
Following the retrial, Weinstein is set to serve a 16-year sentence in California for a separate rape conviction in Los Angeles. Despite maintaining his innocence and denying the allegations of rape and sexual assault, Weinstein was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 while already serving a 23-year sentence in New York.
Notably, Weinstein's 2020 conviction in Manhattan was overturned earlier this year by the state's top court. The court ruled that the judge in the original trial had unfairly allowed testimony against Weinstein based on allegations that were not part of the case.
