– Last day of hearing in the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell
Accused of sex crimes, the ex-partner of American financier Jeffrey Epstein faces up to 80 years in prison.
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Ghislaine Maxwell, 59, faces a very long prison sentence if convicted of providing young underage girls to Jeffrey Epstein. (Illustrative photo)
AFP / Johannes Eisele
Prosecutors and defense lawyers began their indictments and pleadings at the New York sex crimes trial of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, former partner of Jeffrey Epstein, on Monday before a jury withdraws to deliberate.
Ghislaine Maxwell, 59, faces a very long prison sentence if convicted of providing young underage girls to Jeffrey Epstein – a multimillionaire American jet set financier – to exploit them sexually.
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The jury must reach a unanimous decision to find Ghislaine Maxwell guilty. If not, then Judge Alison Nathan could cancel the trial which should start from scratch.
No more than 14 years old
Since the hearings began on November 29, prosecutors have sought to portray Ghislaine Maxwell as the 1994-2004 accomplice of Jeffrey Epstein who committed suicide in prison two years earlier while awaiting his own trial.
As the trial progressed, four women testified against the daughter of former media mogul Robert Maxwell.
Two of the witnesses thus affirmed that they were not more than 14 years old when Ghislaine Maxwell had encouraged them to lavish massages on Jeffrey Epstein, these ending in sexual acts.
“A routine”
One of them, known by the pseudonym “Jane”, detailed how Ghislaine Maxwell recruited her to a summer camp and made her feel “special”.
“Jane” also recounted how encounters and sex acts with Jeffrey Epstein had become routine, with Ghislaine Maxwell sometimes present.
Another witness, “Carolyn”, testified that she was usually paid $ 300 after each sexual encounter with Jeffrey Epstein, and that often Ghislaine Maxwell gave the money herself.
A third woman, Annie Farmer, now 42, accuses Ms Maxwell of stroking her chest on the ranch owned by Jeffrey Epstein in New Mexico when she was a teenager.
“Scapegoat”
For the defense on the other hand, Ghislaine Maxwell is a “scapegoat” used to judge the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein in his absence.
Her lawyers have also expressed doubts about the ability of witnesses to recall events over 25 years old, claiming that “false memories” had taken hold in the minds of these women, especially due to pressure. intense media.
Ghislaine Maxwell refused to testify at her trial, merely stating that l’accusation hadn’t proven his guilt.
Before Christmas
“Your honor, the prosecution has not provided evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, so I do not need to testify,” she said Friday. The trial was expected to go until January but Ghislaine Maxwell could now know her fate before Christmas, her 60th birthday.
If the jury does not reach a verdict by Wednesday night, they will go their separate ways for the Christmas weekend before meeting again on Monday, December 27. Ghislaine Maxwell pleads not guilty to all counts for which she faces up to 80 years in prison, including a maximum of 40 years for trafficking in minors.
