WEINSTEIN BOOST
Harvey Weinstein judge DISMISSES sex assault charges against movie mogul from one of three accusers Lucia Evans
HARVEY Weinstein has had one of the sexual assault charges against him dismissed by a judge in Manhattan.
The dropped charge concerns an alleged sexual assault of Lucia Evans by the disgraced movie mogul in 2004.
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The development came after new evidence emerged about Evans, who claimed she had been forced to perform oral sex on the Weinstein during a meeting at his New York office.
Reports suggest a friend of Evans who was with her on the night and spoke to her after the alleged incident told investigators the singer had willingly performed the sex act.
Shamed Hollywood titan Weinstein could have faced up to 25 years in prison for the thrown-out charge.
Five other charges, involving alleged assaults of two other women, remain in the case in Manhattan criminal court. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
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Weinstein's lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said he would seek dismissal of the remaining charges as well.
Some media outlets reported that there were problems with witness interviews done by one of the lead police detectives handling the investigation.
Others said prosecutors had discovered old personal writings by Evans in which she suggested her encounter with Weinstein was consensual.
The singer's friend also reportedly told investigators Weinstein offered their pair money to expose their breasts.
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Neither woman did so at the time, but according to the friend Evans later exposed her breast to the producer in a hallway - a claim which she denies.
In a statement, a lawyer for Evans said she was disappointed by the DA's decision to "abandon" her.
Attorney Carrie Goldberg said: "Let me be clear: the decision to throw away my client's sexual assault charges says nothing about Weinstein's guilt or innocence.
"Nor does it reflect on Lucia's consistent allegation that she was sexually assaulted with force by Harvey Weinstein,"
"It only speaks volumes about the Manhattan DA's office and its mishandling of my client's case."
Evans was among the first women to publicly accuse the former producer of sexual assault.
At the time of the alleged sex attack, she was a 21-year-old university student.
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Weinstein has denied having non-consensual sex with anyone following accusations by more than 70 women, mostly young actresses and other women employed in the movie business, of sexual misconduct, including rape, dating back decades.
The accusations led to the #MeToo movement in which hundreds of women publicly accuse powerful men in business, politics and entertainment of sexual harassment and abuse.
He has pleaded not guilty and is free on $1 million bail.
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