Harvey Weinstein slapped with two extra charges during first day of sexual assault trial
Former film producer Harvey Weinstein has been slapped with more sexual assault charges on day one of his landmark trial.
Once one of Hollywood's most powerful men, Weinstein, 67, has pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting two women in New York.
The 67-year-old was also charged on Monday in a Manhattan court with the sexual assault of two women in 2013, Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey said in a statement.
He was charged with raping one woman and sexually assaulting the other.
"We believe the evidence will show that the defendant used his power and influence to gain access to his victims and then commit violent crimes against them," Ms Lacey said.
Weinstein potentially faces life in prison.
Dressed in a black suit, he hobbled into court leaning on a walker and with a member of his team holding his arm. Lead defence counsel Donna Rotunno followed close behind.
Outside the courthouse, the Silence Breakers, a group of Weinstein accusers, including actresses Rosanna Arquette and Rose McGowan, held a press conference and demanded accountability for Weinstein.
"As we stand here at the beginning of a new year and a new decade, time's up on sexual harassment in all workplaces," Arquette said.
"And time's up on the pervasive culture of silence that has enabled abusers like Weinstein."
Weinstein did not engage with the accusers, who shouted at him outside court. McGowan was dismissive of Weinstein's feeble appearance.
"I think he's taken some good acting tips,” she said.
More than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct dating back decades.
Those accusations helped fuel the #MeToo movement, in which hundreds of women have publicly accused powerful men in business, politics, the news media and entertainment of sexual harassment or assault.
Weinstein has denied the allegations, saying any sexual encounters he had were consensual.
Monday's court proceedings began with a pretrial conference in state court, with jury selection starting on Tuesday, according to Danny Frost, a spokesman for Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, whose office brought the charges.
Weinstein, who was arrested in May 2018, has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has been free on bail.
In December, Weinstein and his former film studio reached a tentative 25-million-dollar settlement with 30 accusers, US media reported.
The deal would end nearly all civil lawsuits against Weinstein, who would not have to admit any wrongdoing or pay anything out of his own pocket.
With AAP and Reuters
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