Sex Trafficking Trial Of British Socialite Ghislaine Maxwell Kicks Off

Sex Trafficking Trial Of British Socialite Ghislaine Maxwell Kicks Off

By Aaron Miller-

The long-awaited trial of  British socialite, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is facing six sex-trafficking charges, is due to start in New York on Monday, with open arguments expected to kick off the high profile case.

The charges involve four alleged underage victims and multiple locations over a 10-year period between 1994 and 2004. The youngest alleged victim was 14 years old at the time.

Maxwell also faces two counts of perjury which will be tried separately.

She denies all the charges and has pleaded not guilty.

The trial will be held at the Manhattan federal court where Ms Maxwell, 59, will face charges related to her alleged involvement in financier Jeffrey Epstein’s sex crimes.

Maxwell had established strong ties  with British royals and U.S presidents,  and was well estabhed.

Now, she stands accused of recruiting and grooming underage girls for the late disgraced financier to sexually abuse between 1994 and 2004.

Central to all the allegations is Jeffrey Epstein- the wealthy financier and convicted sex offender.

Prosecutors allege that Maxwell “assisted, facilitated, and contributed” to Epstein’s abuse, which largely took the form of sexualised massages.Prosecutors claim Ghislaine Maxwell ‘assisted, facilitated, and contributed’ to Jeffrey

They argue Maxwell encouraged alleged victims to travel to Epstein’s residences across the US knowing that it “would result in their grooming for and subjection to sexual abuse”.

Ghislaine Maxwell blows kisses in court as lawyers argue over grooming and the nature of consent
Maxwell is also accused of taking part in group sex with Epstein and one alleged victim.

Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 in an apparent suicide. He was awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.In the 24-page indictment, the government claims that Maxwell was in an “intimate relationship” with Epstein between 1994 and 1997, and that for a longer period (1994-2004) he paid her to manage his properties.

However the judge in the Maxwell trial has decided that all four alleged victims will be able to use a pseudonym or just their first name. Judge Alison Nathan said this would avoid press intrusion and personal embarrassment.The first alleged victim was about 14 years old when, according to prosecutors, she first met Maxwell.

Maxwell is accused of grooming the young woman by taking her shopping and to the cinema, normalising abuse by undressing in front of her, and being present and involved in some of Epstein’s abuse.

Epstein committed suicide in prison after fooling psychologists that he had no interest in killing himself.

 

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