This isn't some regrettable technicality or scrupulous adherence to defendants' rights, it's just bullshit. Weinstein claimed consent, the prosecutors introduced evidence of him victimizing others the exact same way, thereby showing intent. Appalling. See Singas & Cannataro's dissents.
Here’s the New York Court of Appeals’ 4–3 decision overturning Harvey Weinstein’s conviction on the grounds that the trial judge improperly allowed in evidence of prior sexual assaults. www.nycourts.gov/ctapps/Decis...
It is, though this is slightly different from modus operandi, it's to establish intent, which defendant disputed and which isn't obvious from the circumstances. See this from one of the dissents.
