The trial of GhislaineMaxwell continues on Monday as jurors return from vacation to continue deliberating for another day.
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 – and her 60th birthday – behind bars.
Maxwell is currently facing up to 80 years imprisonment if she is convicted. She has been held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center since July 2020.
The jury began to consider her fate Monday after the hearing of closing arguments during the three week trial. It deliberated for two consecutive days until going home for Christmas.
After returning from the Christmas break, the jury for Ghislaine Maxiwell’s trial began a fourth day in deliberations on Monday.
After the conclusion of the third day’s deliberations, the jury consisted of six men (and six women) and was shown in court sketches Tuesday.
The jury received a note on Wednesday requesting three transcripts. However, they failed to reach a conclusion.
Maxwell maintained her innocence. Her lawyers have blasted her accusers, calling them false memory and 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 said that these are inappropriate for a 59-year-old female who is not a threat to anybody.
In this photograph of the alleged abuse she received in prison, you can see a battered Ghislaine Maxiwell
Maxwell “barricaded herself” in the prison video conference room with a bag of legal documents. Maxwell, according to prosecutors, was considered a security risk by blocking access and blocking out guards.
Judge Alison Nathan advised the jury that they would be safe over Christmas because of Omicron virus.
She claimed that they wanted to return ‘healthy” on Monday. All those attending court in New York must wear masks N95/KN95 to gain entry to the building.
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.
The jury was given the choice to deliberate on Thursday. However, the jurors said that they had not made any plans and they did not want to do so.
The jury, consisting of six men (and six women) had been deliberating for 16 hours 20 minutes before today’s session.
Maxwell, 60 years old, denied six counts of recruiting or transporting girls underage for Jeffrey Epstein.
The jurors seemed to have zeroed in on the two accused during Tuesday’s second day of deliberation.
Pictured: Ghislaine Maxwell being detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC).
After deliberating for the entire day on Tuesday, they sent four letters to the judge. One of them related to Annie Farmer (the only accused publicly identified at 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.
Judge Nathan stated that she would inform them.
An earlier jury demanded to see the notes from an FBI interview Carolyn had given in 2007. This was her first conversation with law enforcement regarding Epstein’s abuse.
Judge Nathan claimed that they were unable to see the document because it was not in evidence.
The jury might, however, refer to it in Carolyn’s 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 to support their sister on Monday
After just under an hour of deliberation on Tuesday, the jury sent its initial note at 10.10am.
Judge Nathan indicated that jurors were seeking transcripts of Jane’s and Annie’s testimony, but not Kate.
Kate is the sole accuser who claims they should not be treated as crimes in the indictment.
Judge Nathan stated that the jury was not called out, and she would provide them with the transcripts during the deliberation.
Maxwell was dressed in a black turtleneck sweatshirt and pants, while carrying 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 said that defense tried to again discredit the statements of four accusers. “The evidence has established, what we promised you it would,” Menninger explained. This case is different. They brought their money to the FBI, where they were accompanied by personal injury attorneys.
Menninger stated that Maxwell had been made to appear like “Cruella De Vil and Devil Wears Prada in one”.
Menninger stated that such a portrait is ‘as ancient as Hollywood’.
Menninger claimed that the lawyers had manipulated their stories, and that the government believed their tales without ever corroboring 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.”
In one photo, the couple is seen in Europe. Jeffrey Epstein can be seen on one cheek kissing Ghislaine
The prosecution team members at the GhislaineMaxwell trial are seen leaving the Thurgood Marsh United States Courthouse holding boxes of papers. As the jury deliberates, they walk out with the boxed documents.
Menninger claimed that Epstein had been a master manipulator who “abused his money” and “abused his power”.
She stated that she was not present to defend Jeffrey Epstein. However, she said, “Ghislaine Maxiwell is not 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? Others women
The jury shouldn’t draw any inferences from Epstein taking photos of Maxwell. Menninger had asked the jury if they would consider Epstein a “sex offender” if they were shown photos of their ex-boyfriends or partners.
Menninger denounced the use of images like this as “straight up sensationalism.”