Weinstein pleads not guilty to new sex crime charge

Disgraced US movie producer Harvey Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to a new sex crime charge in New York.

Weinstein, 72, who had emergency heart surgery just over a week ago, appeared in a Manhattan courtroom in a wheelchair to enter his plea to a single charge of committing a criminal sexual act.

The once-powerful movie mogul was unshaven and appeared pale and visibly frail during his brief court appearance.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the new indictment of Weinstein is for the sexual assault of a woman in a Manhattan hotel between 29 April 2006 and 6 May 2006.

"Thanks to this survivor who bravely came forward, Harvey Weinstein now stands indicted for an additional alleged violent sexual assault," Mr Bragg said in a statement.

Weinstein is serving a 16-year prison sentence after being convicted on rape charges in California.

He was also convicted in New York in 2020 of the rape and sexual assault of an actress and of forcibly performing oral sex on a production assistant.

He was sentenced to 23 years in prison in that case.

A New York appeals court, however, overturned that conviction in April and Weinstein is now awaiting a retrial on those charges.

Judge Curtis Farber scheduled a next court hearing for Weinstein for 2 October.

The one-time Hollywood heavyweight has suffered from a raft of health issues while in prison and has spent time in a secure hospital unit.

On 9 September, Weinstein was rushed to Bellevue Hospital from New York's Rikers Island prison for emergency heart surgery.

Allegations against Weinstein helped launch the #MeToo movement in 2017, a watershed moment for women fighting sexual misconduct.

More than 80 women accused him of harassment, sexual assault or rape, including prominent actors Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ashley Judd.

Weinstein claimed any sexual relations in question were consensual.