As the defense and prosecution make closing arguments today in their sex trafficking case, Ghislaine Maxwell will be convicted.
Maxwell, who is now 59 years old, will be sentenced to life imprisonment for six charges of transporting unmarried girls into the hands of Jeffrey Epstein (her former lover and close friend).
Expect the closing arguments to last approximately six hours, before the jury is sent to New York’s Manhattan Federal Court to deliberate.
Experts believe that jurors will come to a verdict within the week. This is because they don’t want the case hanging on their shoulders until Christmas.
This comes amid warnings about Maxwell’s potential for naming people if she is sent to the bottom.
Ghislaine Maxwell poses for a photograph at what looks like a ski resort. The pair were shown dozens upon dozens of photos by the prosecutor to prove their closeness.
Maxwell listens during Saturday’s trial.
Maxwell’s sisters Isabel and Kevin attended throughout the evening (photo taken Friday night).
‘This could be bad news for Prince Andrew and other high-profile men who hung out with Ghislaine and Jeffrey Epstein,’ a legal source connected with the case told The Mail on Sunday.
‘It is possible she will begin to co-operate and tell what she knows in an attempt to lessen her jail term. We know that prosecutors are looking at other co-conspirators in connection with Jeffrey Epstein’s child sex ring. Ghislaine is certain to have information that could be helpful in other cases. Her testimony, if she agrees to cooperate could prove devastating. She was Epstein’s right-hand woman for years, imagine what she knows?’
Prince Andrew was referenced three times in the trial. Epstein’s pilot testified that Andrew flew on “the Lolita Express.”
Virginia Roberts is one of Epstein’s accusers. She has filed separate lawsuits against the Duke of York in New York. Roberts claims she was forced to have sexual relations with Epstein on three occasions including Maxwell’s Belgravia house.
Andrew strongly denies the allegation.
Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, and Kevin Spacey were all named in court as Epstein’s associates.
Maxwell’s defense will argue that she is being tried as a stand-in for Epstein who was found hanged in his Manhattan prison cell while awaiting trial in 2019.
Maxwell’s and US prosecutors are likely to spend between two to three hours to summarize their cases in Manhattan federal court.
The judge Alison Nathan will instruct each juror how to look at the charges, before instructing them all to take their seats and decide.
To convict, they must agree on a verdict. They must agree to convict. If not, the judge can declare a mistrial.
The prosecution has attempted to make Maxwell the partner-in crime in Epstein’s high-profile trial, which began November 29.
She claimed that she had recruited girls between 1994-2004 to be sexually exploited in America by an American money manager who was in prison two years before his trial.
Maxwell, who was a date to Jeffery Epstein has been charged by the financier with six counts for transporting or enticing girls underage for sexual abuse.
These photos were shown to Maxwell’s jury. They show the intimate relationship that the two of them have, which the prosecutors call ‘partners-in crime’.
Four women made lurid allegations against Maxwell (the daughter of Robert Maxwell), during the trial.
Maxwell is alleged to have started grooming the two girls when they were 14 years old. He arranged for them to massage Epstein, which ended in sexual activity.
One of the participants, named only Jane, described how Maxwell made Jane feel special and recruited her to summer camp.
According to her, sexual encounters with Epstein were a common occurrence with Maxwell occasionally present.
A second, referred to as ‘Carolyn’, said that she was often paid $300 for sexual encounters with Epstein. This included Maxwell’s.
Annie Farmer, 42 years old, is the third victim. She claims Maxwell raped her while she was still a teenager at Epstein’s New Mexico ranch.
Maxwell, according to the defense, was used by Epstein as a scapegoat for his crimes.
The women were also questioned about their ability to recall events from quarter-century ago.
Maxwell’s lawyers argued that the ‘false memories were implanted in the minds’ of the women being questioned and because they had received intense media scrutiny.
Although she declined to stand, the socialite made a short statement to the judge Friday.
She stated, “Your honor, it is not clear that the government has proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. Therefore, I am not required to testify.”
Maxwell is now facing the possibility that her fate will be revealed before her 60th Birthday, Christmas Day.
She has pleaded not guilty for all charges that could result in up to 80 years imprisonment.