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A New York jury on Tuesday resumed deliberations on the fate of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, accused of recruiting and grooming young girls to be abused by late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Maxwell, the 59-year-old daughter of former newspaper baron Robert Maxwell, faces an effective life sentence if convicted on all six counts following a high-profile three-week trial in Manhattan.
They had already deliberated for about an hour Monday afternoon, following closing arguments and lengthy instructions from judge Alison Nathan about how they should weigh the sex trafficking charges.
They must reach a unanimous decision on each count. If they cannot agree, then the judge could declare a mistrial.
The charges against Maxwell stem from 1994 to 2004. Four of Epstein’s alleged victims testified during the trial. Two said they were as young as 14 when Maxwell allegedly began grooming them and arranging for them to give massages to Epstein that ended in sexual activity.
One, identified only as “Jane,” detailed how Maxwell recruited her at summer camp and made her feel “special.”
She said sexual encounters with Epstein became routine, with Maxwell sometimes present.
Another, going by “Carolyn,” said she was usually paid $300 after sexual encounters with Epstein, often by Maxwell herself.
A third alleged victim was Annie Farmer, now 42, who said Maxwell fondled her breasts when she was a teenager at the New Mexico ranch owned by Epstein.
American money-manager Epstein, 66, killed himself in jail in 2019 while awaiting his own sex crimes trial. Maxwell was arrested the following year.
‘Sophisticated predator’
Maxwell pleaded not guilty to all counts, which carry a total of up to 80 years behind bars. The prosecution portrayed her as a “sophisticated predator who knew exactly what she was doing.”
US prosecutor Alison Moe…
Source : france24
