Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction in New York has been overturned, on the basis that he did not receive a fair trial.

The New York Court of Appeals said prosecutors in the pivotal #MeToo case called witnesses whose accusations were not part of the charges against him.

The court said that meant he was unfairly tried for past behaviour, and ordered a new trial.

The 72-year-old remains in prison.

According to BBC News, Weinstein’s lawyer, Arthur Aidala, has hailed the reversal as a win for the legal system.

There is criticism however from a victims’ group called Silence Breakers.

They called the reversal “disheartening and profoundly unjust”, while lawyers for victims said the decision to retry was a “leap backwards” and “tragic”.