Six men and six ladies charged with convicting Ghislaine Maxiwell of sex traficking face the prospect of spending New Year’s Eve in their jury rooms, as they continue to deliberate at an ebb snail’s speed.
On Tuesday, Judge Alison Nathan advised them that they would have to stay over the weekend because she fears that Covid’s rapid spread could cause injury to one or more members of the panel. This may lead to an ineffective trial.
Although jurors claim they are “moving ahead” and are progressing in the case, they did not reach a verdict by the end of the fifth day.
On Wednesday, they returned to Manhattan’s courthouse to check if the six-day wait would be over.
Before the jury came in late Tuesday, Judge Nathan said that if a verdict was not reached by the end of Wednesday she would tell the jury it would have to sit on the weekend until reaching a verdict.
Judge Nathan originally planned to be present until Wednesday, then the jury could go on holiday. However, the Omicron variant has disrupted those plans.
On Tuesday morning the judge said that the rising number of Omicron cases was ‘putting at risk our ability to complete this trial.’
Ghislaine Maxwell lowers the mask in order to drink water on Tuesday, the fifth day of jury deliberations
Judge Alison Nathan becomes more worried that Covid’s spread could disrupt Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial for sex-trafficking.
After the third day’s deliberations, the jury consisted of six men (shown in court sketches). They returned home to celebrate the New Year and have one week off.
Isabel Maxwell arrives with a pizza and a drink for media members after five days of jury deliberations in the Ghislaine Maxwell case trial.
Bobbi Sternheim, the lead defense attorney, and Christian Everdell, an attorney for Christian Everdell, left court Tuesday following a jury’s inability to reach a verdict
According to Judge Nathan, none of the jury panel had objected to sitting an hour extra each day to deliberate – a ‘request’ she made on Monday -meaning they finish at 6pm instead of 5pm.
She explained that there was an “astronomical rise” in Covid positive New York City cases.
This was done to “avoid mistrials due to Omicron variant” of coronavirus.
Judge Nathan stated that there was a “high and increasing risk” that jurors or other participants would need to be quarantined, which could put at risk the trial’s ability to go ahead.
She said that it was time to reflect on jurors’ plans for continuing to deliberate until the verdict is reached.
Although Judge Nathan didn’t elaborate on the matter, she did offer the jury another day of deliberation during the week that led up to Christmas. They declined.
Maxwell experienced a setback Tuesday when Judge Nathan refused to grant her additional instructions for the jury regarding one count in relation to transporting ‘Jane.
Ghislaine Maxwell was present in court as Isabel, her sister, to help support her sister during the fifth day’s jury deliberations
Isabel was standing before a man wearing a gas mask. The sign read: ‘Les Wexner Donald Barr, this is too extreme’
Judge Nathan will sit through the New Year’s weekend, unless jurors reach a verdict before then
Maxwell’s request to clear up a charge to the jury by Maxwell’s legal team was rejected.
The jury received a Monday note from Maxwell asking if it could convict Maxwell of one charge relating to Jane, assuming that Maxwell helped Jane book a return flight from New Mexico.
Judge Nathan had previously instructed the jury.
Maxwell’s attorneys argued in a court letter that the argument was incorrect and prejudiced to Ms. Maxwell.’
They stated that jurors were confused about count 4, namely transporting minors in the intention of engaging in criminal sexual activity. But count 2, namely entice minors to travel and engage in illegal acts, was also being considered.
Judge Nathan denied the request to address count 2, as it was not raised by the jury.
Third paragraph of suggestion was rejected by the judge and she said it was “just wrong” under law.
Bobbi Sternheim, Maxwell’s lawyer, patted her back as she read the ruling.
Maxwell was dressed in a black turtleneck sweater, black pants, and she gave two lawyers a big hug.
Her brothers Kevin and Christine, her sisters, were present at the public gallery.
The jury received a Monday note from Maxwell asking if it could convict Maxwell of one charge relating to Jane, assuming that Maxwell helped Jane book a return flight from New Mexico.
Ghislaine’s twins, Isabel and Christine Maxwell arrive at the Manhattan Courthouse Tuesday morning.
Bobbi Sternheim (defense attorney) speaks with Christine and Isabel
Jeffrey Pagliuca and Laura Menninger, the defense lawyers, arrive at jury deliberations.
Bobbi Sternheim, Maxwell’s defence attorney arrives at the courthouse on Tuesday morning while deliberations go ahead
On Monday, the jury did not reach a decision when it sought a transcript from the testimony of an ex-boyfriend to one victim and a definition for ‘enticement’ which was one of two charges against that victim.
This week’s proceedings will be shorter than last week. The jury will be deliberating today and Wednesday due to the New Year holiday. If they do not reach a decision, they will have a short break until Monday.
Surprise move by Judge Alison Nathan on Monday: She urged jurors to remain an additional hour every day. Instead of closing promptly at 5, sessions will end at 6pm.
Laura Menninger, Maxwell’s attorney, had claimed that the instruction to the jury was beginning to resemble urging them to hurry.
Alison Moe stated that it was “within the court’s discretion” to ask the jury for more time.
Menninger was initially informed by Judge Nathan that he had the right to determine the time and could do so without your approval.
Later, she stated that she would include the qualification to the jury that the jurors should be allowed to take as much time as they need.
A jury note asking if Maxwell was involved in Jane’s flight arrangements from New Mexico to her home, and whether they should convict Maxwell of one count related to Jane also caused intense debate.
The prosecution wanted the jury to follow their orders, while Maxwell’s legal team argued the opposite.
Judge Nathan stated that the note was unclear and said to the court, “I don’t understand what the question is asking. It’s too hard to interpret factually or legally.”
The jury was referred to the appropriate section of her instructions, which she read before the start of their deliberations.
The jury requested transcripts from Epstein’s former pilot Dave Rodgers as well as Gregory Parkinson, the ex-Palm Beach police officer who recorded Epstein’s raid in 2005.
The jury requested the transcript and stationery materials of one accused’s testimony.
One hour and half later, the jury had begun on Monday. They sent a letter asking for colored Post-it Notes and white paper boards.
Jane was also asked to testify by Matt, her boyfriend, which corroborated Jane’s account that she was abused and recruited by Jeffrey Epstein and Maxwell aged 14.
They wanted a definition for enticement. Jane was charged with Maxwell inviting her to sexual abuse by Epstein.
After Maxwell’s lawyers were question by Judge Alison Nathan, the prosecution and Maxwell themselves asked questions. The judge directed the jury towards two portions of the jury instructions to determine what enticement was.
They were also given the instruction to attract, induce or lure using hope and desire.
Ghislaine Maxwell has worn a number of different colored turtleneck sweaters throughout her trial, now in its fifth week
After answering questions from Maxwell’s attorneys and the prosecution, Judge Alison Nathan instructed the jury to refer to the two sections of the jury instructions regarding a definition for enticement. The additional instructions she gave were: “Attracting or inducing hope or desire to lull others”
The two also requested a definition for enticement. Jane was charged with Maxwell’s intoxication to sexually abuse Epstein.
Maxwell, who had spent Christmas and her 60th Birthday in prison, walked into court feeling relaxed.
The blonde turtleneck sweater she was wearing with a dark brown mask, and the black mask that her older sister Isabel wore while sitting in the public gallery.
Jeff Pagliuca, Maxwell’s attorney, told Maxwell that he wished him a happy birthday and a Merry Christmas.
Bobbi Sternheim Maxwell’s lawyer asked that Maxwell can wear a KN95 face mask throughout the day and not just when she is in court. Maxwell, however, had another mask on her prison cell.
Judge Nathan stated that anyone who entered the courthouse must wear either a N95 or KN95 mask. This was in accordance with a Monday ruling. It is due to an increase in cases of coronavirus.
The jury of six men and six women ended their first week of deliberations Wednesday without reaching a verdict forcing the British socialite to spend Christmas behind bars.
Maxwell faces 80 years prison time if convicted. Maxwell has been kept in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, where she describes as a “hell hole”, since her July 2020 arrest.
The jury began deliberating her fate Monday after the hearing of closing arguments during the three week trial. It deliberated for two consecutive days until going home to the holidays.
This courtroom sketch shows Maxwell (center) hugging Laura Menninger her defense lawyer, shortly after she walked out of lockup on Monday
The jury received a note on Wednesday requesting three transcripts. However, they failed to reach a conclusion.
Maxwell insists on her innocence, and Maxwell’s lawyers denounce her accusers for having false memories and being motivated by money.
Maxwell stated in legal documents earlier this year that her prison treatment is so terrible it’d be “fit for Hannibal Lecter”.
Maxwell’s lawyers claimed they weren’t appropriate for Maxwell, a 59-year-old woman that poses no threat.
In this photograph of the alleged abuse she received in prison, you can see a battered Ghislaine Maxiwell
Maxwell was accused of putting a cart full of legal documents inside the video conference area in prison. Maxwell, according to prosecutors, was considered a security risk by blocking the doors and keeping guards out.
A close to Wednesday’s end, the jury demanded another copy the transcript from the accused known as Jane’s testimony.
The accusers also requested the testimony of Kate and Juan Alessi, Epstein’s ex-Palm Beach House manager.
They were given the opportunity to decide on Thursday, but they decided not because they had made plans.
Maxwell (60) denies six charges of transporting and recruiting underage girls to her ex-boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein.
The jurors seemed to have zeroed in on the two accused during Tuesday’s second day of deliberation.
They deliberated for the whole day Tuesday and sent four notes to the judge including one which related to Annie Farmer, the only accuser publicly identified in court.
They wanted to see if the girl could be used to give her evidence for two charges of conspiracy to transport or entice an unmarried girl to perform sex acts.
Pictured: Ghislaine Maxwell being detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC).
Judge Nathan stated that she would inform them.
The jury requested earlier that the FBI take notes on a 2007 interview Carolyn conducted with the FBI. This was the first time Carolyn spoke publicly to authorities about Epstein’s abuse.
Judge Nathan stated that the evidence had not been filed so they couldn’t see it.
But the jury may refer to Carolyn’s mention during cross examination by defense.
Defense attorney Menninger said that Epstein was a ‘master manipulator’ who ‘abused his money and his power’ but said Ghislaine had nothing to do with it
Maxwell’s sisters, Isabel (Kevin), Ian (Ian) and Christine arrived in court Monday to help their sister.
The jury received its first note on Tuesday at 10.10am, after having deliberated for just over an hour.
Judge Nathan stated that the jury was asking for transcripts from Jane, Annie, and Carolyn’s testimony – but didn’t mention Kate.
Kate is not the only accused whose claims aren’t crimes and should be dismissed from the indictment.
Judge Nathan stated that the jury was not called out, and she would provide them with the transcripts during the deliberation.
Maxwell entered court in black turtleneck sweat, black pants and a green folder.
She hugged her attorneys and waved to a young lady in the public gallery.
Maxwell’s defense presented closing arguments Monday afternoon. She stated that Maxwell was innocent and wrongfully accused for crimes she didn’t commit.
In her closing remarks, Maxwell’s lawyer Laura Menninger said: ‘The government has failed to prove any charge beyond a reasonable doubt and the only correct verdict in this case is not guilty on each count.’
Menninger asserted that again, the defense attempted to discredit statements made by the accusers. In this instance, however, the reverse is true. They brought their money to the FBI, where they were accompanied by personal injury attorneys.
Menninger stated that Maxwell had been transformed into a combination of Cruella de Vil, Devil Wears Prada and Cruella De Vil.
Menninger claimed that this portrait was “as old and as Hollywood”
Menninger stated, “The lawyers altered their stories and government accepted them without ever corroborating them.”
Menninger claimed that the accusers “suddenly” rediscovered memories many years later.
She stated: “The recovered memories that Ghislaine had been involved, that Ghislaine existed, that Ghislaine, the perpetrator, were there.”
Menninger claimed that Epstein spent much of the prosecution’s time discussing his lifestyle, his property, and private planes “just like a sensationalist tabloid.”
They are seen together in one photograph in what looks like a European town. Jeffrey Epstein can be seen on one cheek kissing Ghislaine
As the jury deliberates, members of the prosecution team for the Ghislaine Maxiwell trial leave the Thurgood Marshall United State Courthouse carrying boxes of paper.
Menninger stated that Epstein was an’master manipulator’ and abused both his money (and his power)
She replied, “We aren’t here to defend Jeffrey Epstein. He is not my client.” But she also said that, “Ghislaine maxwell isn’t Jeffrey Epstein.”
Menninger said that Epstein was killed by the prosecution and they ‘pivoted to go after Maxwell.
It was a simple idea that “Ghislaine must have known” because she was there.
Menninger was critical of Epstein’s New York City home for stealing 38,000 photos in 2019.
She replied: Is there another 31,960 photos? Was it other women? Were there other women? Did it involve other women?
The jury should not draw any conclusions from Epstein’s keeping of Maxwell photos. Menninger suggested to the jury, “If an ex boyfriend/girlfriend had photos of them would that render them a sex offender?”
Menninger condemned images like these as “straight up sensationalism.”