Harvey Weinstein was wheeled into a Manhattan courtroom on Thursday wearing a hospital wristband to indicate he is a “fall risk” as his MeToo rape retrial resumed.

Weinstein, 73, has chronic myeloid leukaemia, heart issues, diabetes, sleep apnoea and sciatica. A recent tongue infection was misdiagnosed and required hospitalisation and his lawyers claim he has gained nearly 20 pounds in the past month.

The former movie titan’s lawyers are lobbying for their client to be moved to a New York City hospital during the criminal trial, which is expected to start in earnest next week.

Weinstein is being tried again after New York’s highest court last year overturned his 2020 conviction and 23-year prison sentence, citing improper rulings and prejudicial testimony.

Wearing a navy suit and blue tie, the Oscar-winning producer was seen sitting at the defence table with Jonathan Franzen’s 2001 novel, The Corrections, and Eric Clapton’s autobiography in front of him.