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(Elizabeth Williams by way of AP)
The protection in Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex trafficking trial rested its case Friday after the British socialite advised Judge Alison Nathan she wouldn’t take the stand.
The resolution got here as Maxwell’s attorneys wrapped up their case within the high-profile trial that noticed 4 accusers say Maxwell helped recruit and groom underage women to be sexually abused by disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and his roster of wealthy and highly effective pals between 1994 and 2004.
Maxwell faces six legal counts, together with engaging a minor to journey to interact in unlawful sex acts. She has pleaded not responsible, and her protection staff has argued that she’s a scapegoat for the crimes Epstein, who died in August 2019 whereas awaiting his personal sex trafficking trial, dedicated.
DEFENSE RESTS IN GHISLAINE MAXWELL’S SEX TRAFFICKING TRIAL: BRITISH SOCIALITE SAYS SHE WON’T TESTIFY
Here are key takeaways from Week Three.
Defense rests early
The protection rested its case Friday afternoon, a lot prior to most authorized analysts had predicted. The trial, which was imagined to final six weeks, largely wrapped up after simply three. At one level, the protection staff indicated it would name as much as 35 witnesses. In the tip, their complete case took two days.
An ex-girlfriend of Epstein’s and a former worker who considered Maxwell as a mentor had been among the many whittled-down record of protection witnesses.
Closing arguments are scheduled for Monday, which will likely be adopted by Judge Alison Nathan charging the jury.
Not going to testify
(AP Photo/Elizabeth Williams)
Maxwell confirmed Friday afternoon that she wouldn’t be taking the stand in her personal protection.
“Your honor, the government has not proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt, and so, there is no need for me to testify,” the 59-year-old advised the choose.
There had been some courtroom buzz that she may, however her household advised reporters final week that she was “too fragile.” The household has lengthy complained about Maxwell’s “abusive” therapy on the New York detention heart, even writing to Attorney General Merrick Garland and requesting that authorities cease utilizing four-point restraints to shackle her palms, waist, and ft when she is moved from a holding cell to the courtroom. Family members have additionally requested the nation’s prime prosecutor to verify she receives a meals pack and a bar of cleaning soap every day and be allowed to satisfy along with her attorneys for at the very least half-hour a day earlier than and after court docket.
At least one of her seven siblings has proven as much as court docket every single day to help her.
Miss Sweden
(Elizabeth Williams by way of AP)
Eva Andersson-Dubin, a former Miss Sweden who dated Epstein on-and-off from 1983 to the early Nineties, testified Friday that she felt snug having her personal kids, two daughters and a son, round Epstein and stated they referred to as him “Uncle F.”
Andersson-Dubin, now 60, stated she and Epstein remained pals after breaking apart for good in 1994. She went on to marry billionaire hedge fund supervisor Glenn Dubin, with whom she had kids. She is a New York doctor and stated her household usually traveled on Epstein’s non-public jet within the Nineties and vacationed with him.
The Dubins have denied realizing something about Epstein’s sexual misconduct, however they had been publicly supportive of him when he was prosecuted and convicted on sex crimes in 2008.
Andersson-Dubin additionally advised jurors she didn’t know “Jane,” one of Epstein and Maxwell’s accusers. Her testimony was a direct contraction to Jane’s sworn testimony that she was simply 14 when the a lot older couple began forcing her to present nude massages and take part in orgies.
Jane, one of 4 accusers who stated Maxwell had taken half within the abuse, advised the jury she had sexual encounters with girls named Sophie, Eva, Emmy, Michelle, and Kelly and that the ladies would again up her claims. Anderson-Dubin’s testimony appeared to undermine Jane’s testimony.
No pseudonyms for protection witnesses
Nathan on Thursday denied a request by the protection to permit witnesses to testify below assumed names regardless of permitting three of the 4 accusers testifying for the prosecution to take action.
(Elizabeth Williams by way of AP)
“The Defense’s primary contention is that some form of anonymity for its witnesses is justified by the same reasons that the Court permitted three alleged victims and two related government witnesses to testify under pseudonyms,” the federal choose wrote in a six-page opinion and order. “The Court disagrees with this basic premise and denies the Defense’s motion.”
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Week Three was an abbreviated one as a scheduling battle delaying testimony till Thursday. Closing arguments within the case are anticipated to start Monday.
If convicted, the socialite might spend many years behind bars.
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