Harvey Weinstein has petitioned a New York court to expedite his retrial for sex crimes, citing his declining health and the dire conditions at Rikers Island prison, which he referred to as a "hell hole".
During a court session in Manhattan's Criminal Court on Wednesday, Judge Curtis Faber set the trial for April 15th for the disgraced Hollywood producer.
Attired in a navy blue suit and using a wheelchair, Weinstein informed the judge that he might not survive until the trial date.
I can't hold on anymore. I'm only persevering for the sake of seeking justice and putting an end to this, he expressed.
Weinstein described his daily struggle due to health issues as "a serious emergency situation."
His legal team has previously raised concerns about the inadequate medical care and unsanitary conditions at the notorious facility, which is set for closure.
Weinstein characterized the conditions at Rikers as "medieval" and criticized the city for tolerating such circumstances. He narrated an incident where a new nurse had nearly given him the wrong medication that very morning.
While empathetic, Judge Faber informed Weinstein about a prior commitment to preside over a murder trial.
I'm imploring the court to reschedule the trial so that we can prioritize it and swiftly move forward, escaping this nightmare, Weinstein pleaded.
The judge agreed to explore the possibility of advancing the trial by a week.
The situation marked a setback for the MeToo movement, which gained momentum following the explosive accusations against the Oscar-winning producer in 2017.
Simultaneously, Weinstein faces a new sexual assault accusation for allegedly coercing oral sex from a different woman at a Manhattan hotel in 2006, a claim he refutes.
Judge Faber rejected Weinstein's request to dismiss the new charge.
Weinstein remains incarcerated due to a prior conviction for rape in California, resulting in a 16-year prison sentence.