NEW YORK (AFP) — Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein’s retrial on rape and sex assault charges began Tuesday, forcing survivors who helped fire up the “#MeToo” movement to prepare to testify against him once more.

Weinstein’s 2020 conviction by a jury was overturned last year by an appeals court that ruled that the way witnesses were handled in the original New York trial was unlawful.

The voiding of the jury’s verdict by the New York Court of Appeals was a setback to survivors of the #MeToo movement against sexual violence and the promotion of justice for them.

Weinstein was wheeled into court wearing a dark blue suit and adjusted his tie as he took his seat at the defense table while the trial lawyers spoke to the judge.

Judge Curtis Farber said he expected the presentation of evidence to last five to six weeks.

“I am hopeful the trial will be over by the end of May,” he said.

Several dozen prospective jurors indicated they felt they could not give Weinstein a fair trial because of what they knew about the case.

The onetime Miramax studio boss was charged with the sexual assault of former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006, the rape of aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013, and a new count for an alleged sexual assault in 2006 at a........

© The Times of Israel