Harvey Weinstein: Ex-film producer pleads "not guilty" in Los Angeles

Enlarge image

Former Hollywood great Weinstein

Photo: AP

Former Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, convicted of sex crimes, has pleaded "not guilty" in a Los Angeles court on further charges of rape and sexual assault of five women.

The 69-year-old entered the courtroom in a wheelchair on Wednesday but only allowed his lawyer to speak.

If convicted, he faces a prison sentence of up to 140 years.

The day before, the "Pulp Fiction" producer was transferred from New York to Los Angeles, California.

He has been serving a 23-year prison sentence in the east coast metropolis since last year.

Weinstein's lawyers had tried in advance to prevent their client from being transferred to Los Angeles, including health reasons.

In California, Harvey Weinstein is accused of, among other things, raping an Italian model in a Beverly Hills hotel in February 2013 and then sexually abusing Lauren Young, a budding actress, in the bathroom of another hotel.

Young already appeared as a witness in the trial in New York.

The other charges against Weinstein in Los Angeles date back to 2004.

Around 90 women raise allegations against Weinstein

A New York jury jury found the founder of the Miramax film studio guilty of rape in a minor case and of serious sexual assault in February 2020.

The following month, a judge sentenced Weinstein to 23 years in prison.

Weinstein, who denies all allegations, has appealed his conviction.

A total of around 90 women, including well-known actresses such as Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek and Gwyneth Paltrow, accused Weinstein of sexual harassment or violence.

The news of the allegations triggered the worldwide #MeToo movement against sexual violence against women in autumn 2017.

jok / AFP