Ghislaine Maxwell’s victim might refuse to testify in a second trial if she is disgraced socialist because she doesn’t believe she can ‘go through it again.
Lawyers for Maxwell, 60, launched an appeal for a retrial last week due to a juror’s possible failure to disclose that he was sexually abused as a child before the trial.
Their attorneys stated that they had filed a motion to retrial under sealed proceedings, but reference Juror No. 50, also known as Scotty, opened up about his traumatizing past.
Maxwell, who was found guilty last month of five counts of child sex trafficking and faces up to 65 years in jail when she is sentenced in June, is currently in solitary confinement at New York’s Metropolitan Detention Centre.
She’s on suicide watch and allowed to wear only paper clothes. Books are not permitted.
However, the motion to retrial would be granted if prosecutors present a case that does not include any of the four witnesses or locate other victims.
The Telegraph reported that a representative of one woman, who wished to remain anonymous, stated she was not confident she would be able to ‘go through it all again.
Ghislaine Maxill on Jeffrey Epstein’s private plane. This picture was taken during an FBI raid on Epstein’s house. It was later entered as evidence.
Maxwell is seen sketching Jane Rosenberg as a court sketch artist in New York during Maxwell’s trial.
Maxwell’s lawyers claimed that there was evidence to support a new trial. This is after Scotty David (above), who said that Maxwell had been abused while he was still a child.
Maxwell (60) was found guilty of five federal charges in connection to sextrafficking. She also admitted that she assisted Jeffrey Epstein with his abuse. Maxwell faces 65 years imprisonment
She said that a lot of her trauma had resurfaced, as well as all the women involved.
“It was so difficult for them to make it right the first time that I don’t think it is possible to relive it.” This is a very sad situation.
A number of women who were witnesses at the New York trial didn’t come forward until many decades later. Only three, however, agreed to testify anonymously to preserve their identities.
Carolyn Andriano (35), waived anonymity following trial.
She explained that she wanted others to be aware of the terrible things she had experienced and how lucky she was to have survived.
She said that her mother had suffered a lot from the situation, and was unable to care for her four children.
Jane, a second victim of the same incident, testified before the court that she had waited to make the accusations out of fear for the consequences on her acting career.
The US District Judge Alison Nathan has requested that the prosecution investigate statements made by jurors. They will be able to reply to Maxwell’s request until February 2.
Experts in legal matters say Maxwell wouldn’t be entitled to a fresh trial, even if the jury member didn’t disclose the abuses on the questionnaire. They also note that juror dishonesty cases that resulted in verdicts being reversed often involved jurors who intentionally lied to get selected.
Maxwell, Epstein’s first lover, was eventually married to Maxwell. However, their complex relationship led her to manage his household staff.
A former prosecutor claimed that Maxwell could be tried again by the US Government at a subsequent trial.
Brad Edwards (a lawyer representing a lot of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims) echoed this view and said, “Since the verdict more people have came for ward, willing their stories to testify. So I don’t think that a new case would work any better for her.”
Ex-Federal Prosecutor David Weinstein (now a Miami-based Partner in Jones Walker) stated that any jurors are now eligible to be interviewed. He specifically mentioned the two jurors, who had shared their stories publicly.
While the admissions wouldn’t necessarily constitute grounds for a mistrial in every case, Maxwell said it would at most be an ‘arrow in the quiver for Maxwell’s appeal.
Maxwell will be sentenced on June 28th.