Ghislaine Maxwell’s protection rested its case in her intercourse abuse trial on Friday after the British socialite advised the decide prosecutors had not confirmed their case past an inexpensive doubt.
In two days of testimony from former staff of Jeffrey Epstein, a psychologist specializing in reminiscence, and an ex-girlfriend of the late financier, the protection sought to undercut the testimony of 4 ladies who stated Maxwell set them up for sexual abuse by Epstein once they had been youngsters.
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Maxwell, 59, pleaded not responsible to eight counts of intercourse trafficking and different crimes. Her attorneys argued she is being scapegoated for Epstein’s conduct. Epstein killed himself in 2019 on the age of 66 in a Manhattan jail cell whereas awaiting trial on intercourse crimes expenses.
Maxwell advised U.S. District Choose Alison Nathan that she wouldn’t testify in her personal protection on Friday.
“Your honor, the federal government has not confirmed the case past an inexpensive doubt and so there isn’t any want for me to testify,” stated Maxwell, standing up within the courtroom.
Maxwell’s lawyer Bobbi Sternheim wrapped her arm round her again as she spoke. Defendants in U.S. prison trials should not required to testify, and infrequently don’t, because the burden of proof is on prosecutors.
Closing arguments within the trial are anticipated on Monday in federal court docket in Manhattan. The jury would then start deliberations.
Nathan suggested jurors to “be cautious on the market” earlier than sending them residence for the weekend. COVID-19 circumstances are on the rise in New York, and Nathan earlier on Friday stated she needed to keep away from “pointless delays” to the trial.
“I wish to see all people again right here Monday,” Nathan stated.
In the course of the trial, Maxwell’s protection sought to painting her 4 accusers as not credible, arguing their recollections had been corrupted because the occasions had been stated to have occurred between 1994 and 2004 and that they had been motivated by the prospect of a payout from a compensation fund for Epstein’s victims.
On Friday afternoon, Maxwell lawyer Christian Everdell learn a stipulation agreed upon by each side indicating that an lawyer for one of many ladies, identified by the pseudonym Jane, had advised her that cooperating with prosecutors may “assist her case,” with out offering particulars.
The lawyer, Robert Glassman, additionally advised her that cooperating was the “morally proper factor to do,” the stipulation stated.
Jane testified in the course of the trial’s first week that she was awarded $5 million from the fund however didn’t assume collaborating in Maxwell’s prison case would assist her declare.
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Accusers place Ghislaine Maxwell at heart of Epstein’s abuse, specialists say
Jurors earlier on Friday heard from an FBI agent who interviewed Jane a number of occasions earlier than Maxwell’s July 2020 arrest. The agent acknowledged that Jane had not initially advised them she was ever in a room alone with Epstein and Maxwell. Jane testified that Maxwell generally participated in intercourse acts along with her and Epstein.
Jane, who stated she was 14 when Epstein started abusing her in 1994, testified that “reminiscence will not be linear.” She additionally stated she was not comfy sufficient throughout her first few conferences with the FBI to share the whole lot that occurred to her.
— Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York
