A judge has ruled to combine the indictments against Harvey Weinstein as the disgraced film producer is set for another trial in New York.

During a court hearing on Wednesday, Judge Curtis Farber announced that the latest indictment against Weinstein would be merged with the previous ones for an upcoming trial. The judge stated that this consolidation was appropriate since both indictments include a charge of the same statutory offense, specifically, criminal sexual act in the first degree.

In September, Weinstein was indicted again on charges of sexual assault. He is also preparing for a retrial following the overturning of his 2020 rape conviction. In April, an appeals court stated that the judge should not have permitted testimony from women whose allegations were not part of the current case, known as Molineux witnesses.

Weinstein’s legal team opposed the merger of the two indictments, claiming it would unfairly prejudice him due to the propensity evidence that led to the first trial’s reversal. Meanwhile, prosecutors argued that combining the indictments would increase efficiency, stating that many of the same witnesses will be called in both cases.

Juda Engelmayer, a spokesperson for Weinstein, expressed to YSL News on Wednesday that “this ruling serves to assist the prosecution in circumventing the Molineux (witnesses) that were barred by the appeals court,” adding, “We intend to challenge this ruling if possible.”

Weinstein attended the hearing on Wednesday, appearing in a wheelchair nearly two months after being transported to the hospital for emergency heart surgery in September. He has previously pleaded not guilty to the new charge, which relates to his alleged sexual assault of a woman in a Manhattan hotel back in 2006. He continues to deny any claims of nonconsensual sexual relations.

“Thanks to this brave survivor who has stepped forward, Harvey Weinstein is now facing an indictment for an additional violent sexual assault,” stated Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg earlier.

Lindsay M. Goldbrum, the lawyer representing the anonymous accuser, commented on Wednesday that “we are satisfied with the court’s choice to consolidate the two indictments.”

“While Ms. Doe has opted not to publicly disclose this painful aspect of her experience, she has consistently communicated with the Manhattan DA’s office that this encounter was non-consensual,” Goldbrum indicated. “Ms. Doe wishes for her privacy to be respected as she prepares for her testimony.”