Harvey Weinstein appears in court to plead not guilty to new indictment
The former Hollywood producer denies five charges and says all his sexual encounters were consensual.
Monday 26 August 2019 15:59, UK
Harvey Weinstein has appeared in a New York court to plead not guilty to a new indictment that includes revised charges of predatory sexual assault.聽
The development means the movie mogul's trial has been pushed back from 9 September until January.
Weinstein was in and out of the court quickly and did not speak to reporters.
The tweak to the case is intended to allow evidence from Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra, who claims Weinstein raped her in her apartment in 1993.
Sciorra is not being added as a victim in the case because the alleged incident happened too long ago, but prosecutors want to use her evidence to show Weinstein had a history of sexual assault - which is necessary to prove a charge of predatory sexual assault.
Weinstein's lawyer said they want the judge to dismiss the indictment, calling it a "desperate" attempt to salvage a "weak" case.
Ms Sciorra's lawyer, Gloria Allred, said her client is willing to tell her story: "Why are they so afraid of having additional witnesses testify?" she said.
Weinstein - once one of Hollywood's most powerful producers - denies five criminal charges in the earlier indictment, including two of rape.
They relate to two women but dozens more have made similar claims against him.
Weinstein says any sexual activity was consensual, but could face a life in jail if convicted.
His lawyers are also trying to move the trial out of New York City because they fear he will not get a fair trial due to all the publicity.