Virginia Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epstein’s most vocal accusers, will not be testifying at the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell.
Maxwell faces a six week trial at federal court in New York starting next week over alleged abuse, procurement of young women and trafficking crimes dating back decades. She faces more than 80 years in jail if convicted on all charges.
Her lawyers are expected to argue she is being punished by proxy for Epstein’s heinous crimes because.
At least four accusers are set to testify against Maxwell with three of them being granted anonymity.
But Giuffre, who is one of the most well known accusers of Epstein, will not take to the stand in Maxwell’s trial despite naming names of those who took part in the billionaire’s alleged trafficking ring.
It is not yet clear why she is not being called to testify.
Giuffre (right with Prince Andrew), has been one of Epstein’s most vocal accusers but she will not be testifying at the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell. She has long claimed that she was a victim of Epstein’s sex trafficking ring throughout the early 2000s when she was a teenager (Ghislaine can be seen, pictured right)
Maxwell faces six-week federal trial in New York for alleged trafficking. Pictured: Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s associate accused of sex trafficking, in a courtroom sketch in New York City
Giuffre has described Maxwell as ‘pure evil’, saying: ‘Epstein was a sick pedophile but Maxwell was the mastermind.’
Another alleged victim said: ‘We thought she [Maxwell] was Mary Poppins because she acted like she was our friend and had that lovely English accent.
‘But she turned out to be a monster in designer clothing. She lured us in. She knew exactly what she was doing. I hope she rots in hell.’
Giuffre has claimed in media interviews and various depositions that Epstein, together with Maxwell trafficked her to powerful men.
They include Prince Andrew, Alan Dershowitz, former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson; former Democratic Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell; the late MIT computer scientist Marvin Minsky; and MC2 model agency cofounder Jean-Luc Brunel.
All of the men have consistently and strongly denied the allegations.
Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell were in a relationship throughout the 90s and 00s during which they are alleged to have groomed and coerced young girls for sex
Although she won’t be appearing on the stand, Giuffre is said to be planning on holding off-the-record remote briefings for reporters throughout the trial from her home in Australia, according to Vanity Fair.
Maxwell faces six counts, including conspiracy to transport underage girls to engage in illegal sexual activity.
Prosecutors allege Maxwell would befriend the girls by taking them shopping and to the movies before she would introduce them to be Epstein to be abused, often while in Maxwell’s presence.
Maxwell has vehemently denied the charges. Most recently on November 1 when she stated bluntly: ‘I have not committed any crimes.’
Prosecutors say Maxwell groomed four victims when they were minors between 1994 and 2004.
Virginia Roberts Giuffre will not be testifying during Maxwell’s trial but will be giving off-the-record briefings to reporters. She has previously claimed she was forced to have sex with Andrew. The Duke of York has consistently denied all sexual allegations made against him
The youngest alleged victim was just 14 at the time she claims she was sexually assaulted by Maxwell.
Her lawyers are expected to argue she is being punished by proxy for Epstein’s heinous crimes because, as one source close to the case maintains, ‘someone has to pay for what he did’.
Maxwell’s legal team has repeatedly made claims about her alleged mistreatment behind bars. She is shown in prison in April of this year with ‘a black eye’
‘The question at trial will be whether the defendant took steps to provide Jeffrey Epstein with access to girls under the age of 18, knowing that Epstein intended to have sexual contact with those girls,’ prosecutors said.
Maxwell’s lawyers have claimed that she is being unfairly punished and kept in inhumane conditions at New York’s Metropolitan Detention Center.
She has been held in solitary confinement for the past 16 months.
Maxwell was arrested in July 2020 and has been incarcerated in jail since.
Maxwell was in a relationship with Epstein throughout the 90s and allegedly brought him into contact with powerful figures.
Epstein was found dead in a New York prison on August 10, 2019, ahead of a trial for sex trafficking charges.