Mr Flynt and his brother Jimmy were indicted on charges of pandering obscenity, disseminating material harmful to a juvenile, conspiracy, and engaging in a pattern of corrupt behaviour.

The city accuses Mr Flynt and his brother of selling a sex video to a minor

The charges resulted from the alleged sale of a sexually-explicit video to a 14-year-old boy at the Hustler Magazine & Gifts store, which Jimmy Flynt manages.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of 24 years in prison and $65,000 in fines.

The trial began on Monday, with the selection of prospective jurors.

It has been twice delayed because Mr Flynt has been in hospital for treatment related to his paralysis. He has been in a wheelchair since 1978 after he was shot in an assassination attempt.

The brothers appeared in court on Monday.

Mr Flynt said he would be happy to win the case, but would also welcome the opportunity for it to be heard in the appellate court.

"That's where you change laws," he said. "And that's what I'm attempting to do now is to get the antiquated obscenity laws off the books."

The People vs Larry Flynt

Mr Flynt first gained notoriety in 1977 when he was convicted of pandering obscenity for selling his sex magazine, Hustler, in Cincinnati.

He served only six days of a seven to 25-year sentence.

He posted $1m bail and was released while the case was under appeal. The conviction was overturned in 1979.

The case was the inspiration for the 1996 film, The People vs Larry Flynt.

Mr Flynt helped force the resignation of a Congressman

Mr Flynt re-entered the national spotlight last year after he placed a full-page advertisement in the Washington Post offering $1m to individuals who could prove they had an "adulterous sexual encounter with a current member of the United States Congress or a high-ranking government official".

During the impeachment effort against President Bill Clinton, Mr Flynt used that information to uncover the affairs of Representative Bob Livingston of Louisiana.