NEW YORK (Reuters) – Former film producer Harvey Weinstein on Wednesday asked a New York state appeals court to delay his rape trial and move it out of Manhattan, the day before the final phase of jury selection is scheduled to begin.
In a filing with the Appellate Division, Arthur Aidala, one of Weinstein’s lawyers, said the trial should be moved because “the current venue has devolved into a carnival-like atmosphere that no potential juror can avoid.”
He said that atmosphere had been stoked by heavy press coverage, protests outside the courthouse and the appearance on Monday of supermodel Gigi Hadid, who was called as a potential juror.
Aidala also said that, out of 142 potential jurors who had filled out written questionnaires, 130 said they had heard of the case before.
Weinstein asked the appellate court to move the trial once before, on the grounds that media attention would prevent him from getting a fair trial in Manhattan, but that request was denied in October.
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