Seven men, five women to serve on Weinstein rape trial jury

Harvey Weinstein leaves a Manhattan courthouse following jury selection for his trial on rape and sexual assault charges in New York, January 17, 2020. /AP Photo

Seven men and five women were chosen on Friday to decide Harvey Weinstein's fate in his rape and sexual assault trial following an acrimonious jury selection process.

Prosecutors accused the defense of striking out young white women while Weinstein's attorneys complained that a juror had written a novel about predatory older men.

The legal teams spent almost two weeks picking 12 jurors from around 700 candidates, including model Gigi Hadid, for the high-profile trial seen as key to the #MeToo movement.

The makeup of the jury is expected to factor heavily in whether Weinstein, 67, is convicted of predatory sexual assault charges that carry life in prison.

Half of the jury will be white men. Only two will be white women.

The defense repeatedly tried to get the case dismissed and the venue moved in recent weeks by complaining that intense media coverage meant Weinstein would not receive a fair trial.

Mimi Haleyi, left, speak during a press conference at the Lotte New York Palace in New York City, October 24, 2017. /AP Photo

Opening arguments from the prosecution and the defense are scheduled for Wednesday.

The trial is expected to run until March 6.

The jury will hear testimony from former production assistant Mimi Haleyi who says Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on her in his New York apartment in July 2006.

The disgraced movie mogul is accused of raping another woman, whose identity has not been disclosed.

Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra is expected to testify as a supporting witness. She says Weinstein raped her in the early 1990s.

More than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct since claims against him ignited the #MeToo movement in October 2017.

But many of the alleged crimes fall outside the timeframe for bringing charges.

(AFP)