A former housekeeper testified Thursday that two ladies who’ve accused Jeffrey Epstein of sexually abusing them as teenagers have been repeated guests to his Palm Seaside mansion, summoned by Epstein or his affiliate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Taking the stand at Maxwell’s intercourse trafficking trial, Juan Patricio Alessi stated that considered one of her accusers, who testified underneath the pseudonym “Jane” earlier this week, initially visited the home along with her mom and later returned a number of occasions alone. She went to the flicks and took a aircraft journey with Epstein, Maxwell and their visitors, Alessi stated.
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Alessi stated he typically picked up Giuffre or “Jane” from their houses, on directions from Maxwell or Epstein, and would convey the guests to Maxwell at her desk.
After that, it was “not my job to see the place they have been,” he stated.
One time, Giuffre introduced her boyfriend into the home along with her, he stated, and Maxwell stated the person wanted to depart and wait within the automobile.
Alessi stated he noticed additionally “many, many, many” younger grownup ladies guests, usually lounging topless by the pool, who seemed to be of their late 20s.
He labored at Epstein’s sprawling residence from 1990 to 2002 — and admits he returned two years later to steal $6,300 in money from Epstein’s desk. He stated Epstein confronted him in regards to the theft and agreed to not press prices if Alessi repaid him, which Alessi stated he did.
Epstein killed himself in jail in 2019, whereas charged with intercourse trafficking counts that alleged he abused dozens of underage ladies in New York and Florida. The case in opposition to Maxwell stems from 4 now-adult ladies who stated she helped him victimize them.
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Giuffre’s allegations, which embrace claims that Epstein and Maxwell trafficked her at age 17 and 18 to different distinguished males who’ve denied it, should not a part of the case.
Maxwell, 59, denies the allegations in opposition to her, and her legal professionals say prosecutors are going after her as a result of they’ll’t strive Epstein.
The Related Press doesn’t usually determine individuals who say they’re victims of sexual assault except they determine to inform their tales publicly, as Giuffre has executed.
Maxwell, a British socialite, was Epstein’s onetime girlfriend and, later, worker. Prosecutors stated she took the women on purchasing journeys and film outings, talked to them about their lives and inspired them to simply accept monetary assist from him.
The federal government additionally says she additionally helped to create a sexualized ambiance by speaking with the women about intercourse and inspiring them to provide Epstein massages, and the lady recognized as “Jane” testified this week that she had sexual interactions with Epstein at age 14 with Maxwell within the room and typically collaborating. Maxwell’s legal professionals pointed to FBI paperwork that stated the lady gave the federal government a distinct account in 2019; she questioned the paperwork’ accuracy.
Alessi portrayed an imperious Maxwell letting it’s identified that she was “the girl of the home” and handing out a 58-page booklet with guidelines for workers on the whole lot from the best way to handle her and Epstein to what sorts of notepads to placed on their desks.
“Checklists will help you in ensuring each job has been accomplished and never even the smallest element has been missed,” the e book stated, instructing staff to “attempt to anticipate” Epstein and Maxwell’s wants and to “see nothing, hear nothing, say nothing” besides when spoken to.
“I used to be imagined to be blind, deaf and dumb and say nothing of their lives,” Alessi stated.
Staffers needed to “run the home like a five-star resort,” hold Epstein’s automobiles washed and stocked with $100 payments in them for his weekend visits and keep away from wanting him within the eye. Maxwell stated he didn’t like such eye contact, in accordance with Alessi, who stated she and Epstein known as him “John” as a substitute of “Juan.”
Earlier Thursday, psychologist Lisa Rocchio testified that little one sexual abusers usually groom their victims in a development that features giving presents, constructing a way of belief and regularly introducing extra sexually charged speak and touching.
Earlier than the trial, Maxwell’s legal professionals tried unsuccessfully to dam Rocchio’s testimony, saying it didn’t have sufficient scientific grounding.
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After she took the stand, defence lawyer Jeffrey Pagliuca recommended that some issues she described as grooming — akin to giving presents, taking youngsters to particular locations or paying them consideration — may be innocuous.
He recalled, for instance, his grandfather taking him to the Bronx Zoo as a baby.
“I’m assuming he wasn’t taking you there for sexual abuse,” she retorted, saying that easy kindness isn’t grooming “within the context of a wholesome and regular relationship.”
© 2021 The Canadian Press
