Harvey Weinstein begged a New York judge to move up his trial date, saying it was unlikely to make it to the April 15 trial date.
"I'm asking and begging your honor to move your trial," Weinstein said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "I can't hold on anymore. I'm holding on because I want justice for myself."
Weinstein is confined to a wheelchair and has various health ailments, including leukemia. Weinstein faces one count of a criminal sexual act in the first degree. He also is being retried on a 2020 rape conviction that was overturned, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Weinstein is being held at Rikers Island, a New York prison. He described the conditions as a "hellhole" and "medieval," Deadline.com reported.
Judge Curtis Farber said he'd consider moving the trial date up to April 7 if the attorneys in the case agree, the website reported.
"Judge Farber demonstrated exceptional responsiveness, and we deeply appreciate his thoughtful consideration of Harvey's condition and circumstances," Weinstein's attorney Juda Engelmayer said in a statement according to Deadline.com. "We remain confident in a swift and efficient trial process and firmly believe that Harvey will be fully exonerated."
Weinstein underwent emergency heart surgery in September and is currently suing New York City and its Department of Correction, for what he claims is "medical negligence," ABC News reported.
Weinstein co-founded Miramax Films which produced a slew of successful independent films in the 1990s and early 2000s including The Crying Game (1992), Pulp Fiction (1994), and Shakespeare in Love (1998).
Weinstein's rape conviction was overturned on appeal because the appeals court ruled that the testimony of "prior bad acts" from some witnesses was improper and should not have been allowed, CNN reported.
