Trial in New York
Prosecutor: Maxwell “right hand man” in Epstein’s crimes
– A prosecutor points to a photo of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The 59-year-old is on trial in New York. Photo: John Minchillo / AP / dpa © dpa-infocom GmbH
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It is clear that Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein were close confidants. But was she also involved in his sex crimes? A trial in New York is supposed to prove that.
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At the start of the abuse trial against Jeffrey Epstein’s ex-partner Ghislaine Maxwell, the 59-year-old prosecutor accused the 59-year-old of complicity in serious sexual crimes against minors.
The accused was Epstein’s “right hand” in the crimes, said a prosecutor on Monday in her opening speech in front of the court in New York.
In the abuse ring operated by Epstein, Maxwell played a crucial role, won the trust of girls and brought them to their former partner. “She knew exactly what was going to happen,” the prosecution continued.
In the case against Maxwell, the prosecution wants to convince the jury that they played a central role in the abuse of minors. Her ex-partner Epstein was accused of setting up a prostitution ring with dozens of underage female victims.
A lawsuit in 2008 resulted in a beneficial deal for Epstein that many considered a scandal. There was never another trial in New York against the well-connected multimillionaire – and acquaintances of Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Bill Gates or the British Prince Andrew, among others – because Epstein was found dead in his prison cell in 2019. Coroners concluded that he had committed suicide.
Maxwell’s trial is estimated to take six weeks, with prosecutors relying on four main witnesses. The cases to be heard range from 1994 to 2004 and the alleged crimes are said to have taken place in Epstein’s mansions in New York, Florida, Santa Fe and London. Maxwell is charged on six counts and faces many years in prison if convicted.
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