Prosecutors in New York have officially dropped a third-degree rape charge against Harvey Weinstein.

The decision comes after the accuser, Jessica Mann, reportedly expressed her unwillingness to testify in a fourth trial, following two previous deadlocked juries.

This development means Weinstein will not face another trial for the alleged 2013 incident involving Mann, who accused the producer of rape in a hotel room when she was an aspiring actress.

This decision is significant as it concludes a lengthy legal battle surrounding this specific charge, which has seen multiple trials and an overturned conviction.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg issued a statement acknowledging the difficulty of the situation for Mann.

Bragg stated, "This has been an extraordinarily taxing ordeal for her, and she has never wavered while testifying in front of two grand juries and three trial juries over the course of eight years.

We thank her for her honesty and her tremendous bravery." The prosecution emphasized that the dismissal was not a reflection of Mann's credibility but a respect for her decision not to continue with court proceedings.

Weinstein's representative, Juda Engelmayer, commented on the outcome, stating that Harvey is "relieved by today's outcome." Engelmayer added, "We believe this is the result that should have been reached from the outset, had the grand jury been presented with the full scope of the emails, text messages, and other private communications."

Weinstein's legal journey for this charge began in 2020, resulting in a conviction that was later overturned.

A subsequent trial last year led to a conviction for a criminal sexual act against a different accuser, but the jury remained undecided on Mann's rape charge.

The third trial concluded in May with another hung jury, leading to the current decision by prosecutors.

Despite the dropped charge, Harvey Weinstein will not be released.

He has been incarcerated since 2020 and is currently serving a 16-year sentence stemming from his Los Angeles rape and sexual assault conviction.

Engelmayer indicated that Weinstein's legal team plans to submit sentencing materials in the coming weeks, intending to challenge the prosecution's sentencing recommendations for the existing conviction.

He noted that Weinstein has been a "model inmate for nearly seven years," a factor they believe should be considered during sentencing.