Prince Andrew’s daughters were seen today at a Swiss resort. Their father is facing a critical point in his US Sexual Assault lawsuit.
Eugenie, a 31-year-old daughter of Jack Brooksbank, was seen walking with Jack Brooksbank through Verbier, carrying her skis.
As Princess Beatrice (33), was also seen smiling, she took a walk through the city, which is where the Duke and Duchess of York have a luxury chalet.
Beatrice’s husband, property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, was also spotted carrying ski boots as he walked through the resort.
Meanwhile, The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, remained at the traditional-style £17million chalet – which boasts views of the Bagnes Valley.
This comes just as Prince Andrew is currently at Windsor’s home, and faces an intense moment today in his defense of the sex assault accusations in the US.
Today the 61-year-old’s lawyers argued that a $500,000 (£370,000) deal between his accuser Virginia Roberts and paedophile Jeffrey Epstein shields him from liability.
Ms Roberts now uses the married name Giuffre and is suing Duke of York over alleged sexual assault she suffered as a teenager.
Prince Andrew, along with his legal team, denies all allegations and is arguing to dismiss the case. It is likely that the US court will soon rule on the motion to dismiss.
Eugenie (31-year-old), the youngest of the Duke’s daughters, was seen walking with Jack Brooksbank in Verbier, Switzerland, carrying her skis.
The 33-year old sister of Princess Beatrice was also photographed smiling, as she strolled through the resort in thick clothing and a bobble-hat. As he was walking through the resort, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, her husband and property developer, was also seen carrying ski boots.
The case is being held by Judge Lewis Kaplan via video conference, just a few days after an open document revealed the terms of Epstein’s payout. In the document, Ms. Giuffre stated that she had agreed in 2009 to release, acquit and satisfy Epstein, as well as any other entity or person who might have been considered as potential defendants.
David Boies, the lawyer representing Ms Giuffre who was previously known as Virginia Roberts said Andrew wouldn’t be a “potential defendant” as described in civil case documents yesterday. This is due to two reasons.
The judge was informed by him that the only claim that could be made was that Prince Andrew was transported for illegal sexual activities.
“There are no allegations that Prince Andrew transported. It is not possible to allege that Prince Andrew was involved in trafficking. He was the one to whom girls were trafficked.
Prince Andrew and Virginia Roberts (now known as Virginia Giuffre) at Ghislaine Maxiwell’s London townhouse, 2001
Virginia Giuffre and David Boies are seen outside a New York court at the August 2019 hearing.
Today’s hearing was conducted by the representatives of both parties through video conference, with public and press ables to listen in via telephone.
Ms Giuffre claims Epstein gave her out to sex with Andrew and his rich and powerful associates. The prince repeatedly denies this allegation.
Andrew B Brettler was the Duke’s lawyer. He said that the potential defendant could be anyone who wasn’t named as a suspect but might have been.
Judge Kaplan was informed by him that Ms Giuffre would likely be a defendant if she knew of any potential plaintiffs she might have ‘claims against’ at the time she filed her lawsuit in 2009.
Judge Kaplan stated that ‘potential” was an expression in which neither Mr Brettler nor he could find any meaning.
Judge Kaplan heard Mr Brettler tell Judge Kaplan the Duke could have been sued, but it was not.
Andrew’s lawyer stated that Ms Giuffre must allege “today” what her complaint is against the duke. Ms. Giuffre said that they only need a date or a month, but not a year. She was only 17 years of age.
Judge Kaplan replied, “She is not under any obligation to do so in the complaint.”
Judge Kaplan was told by Mr Brettler that Ms Giuffre “doesn’t articulate” what the duke had done to her.
According to Kaplan, she was not allowed to have sexual relations with men under the age of consent in New York. Judge Kaplan said that she was not obliged to have sex with the duke, “With all due respect Mr Brettler”
He stated that while he understands Mr Brettler’s argument, it’s not the law. According to Mr Brettler, Ms Giuffre didn’t ‘explain why she was forced’ by New York law.
He stated that her complaint must include an ‘imminent danger of harm’ and she has not made any such allegations in her complaint.
Continued his arguments, Judge Kaplan was told by the Duke’s attorney that they didn’t know what the conduct had been. The judge responded, “Involuntary Sexual Intercourse.” It’s clear what this means.
He said that Prince Andrew shouldn’t be brought into court after 20 years. He said: ‘Witnesses die, witnesses may be incarcerated.’
In conclusion of his argument, Brettler stated that Ms Giuffre’s case against him should be ‘absolutely dismissed.
“She gave many interviews throughout the world and filed this lawsuit.” This lawsuit should be dismissed because it’s unfair and unjust.
Judge Kaplan was informed by Mr Brettler that Ms Giuffre was “healthy as far we know” and could contact her attorneys during the pandemic.
He claimed that she was represented by’sophisticated lawyers’. Judge Kaplan asked if it was possible to view the claim as timely if another defendant made the claim with a different representation.
Brettler stated that the statute did not need to be constitutional. He also said that Ms Giuffre had been able to access the courthouse during the pandemic.
He claimed the complaint was filed five days earlier than the statute expired and said that it was inherently unfair and unjust and the case should therefore be rejected.
Representative Ms Giuffre by Mr Boies said that the claim made to the contrary by the lawyers of the Duke was inconsistent with the statements they had made in their motion for dismissal, which made it clear they were attacking the legal decision made that day.
He claimed that the complaint is clear regarding the sexual intercourses and touching. However, the argument made by the lawyers of the Duke today that “we must allege an imminent threat of Death” was not consistent with the previous motion to dismiss in which the attorneys had stated Ms Giuffre as well as ‘other similar situated individuals’ that it could not be said they consented when they were not expressly acquiescing.
According to He, the question of lack of consent is more than an ‘imminent danger of death’.
Andrew will not be considered a “potential defendant” according to Mr Boies, as stated in civil case papers released yesterday.
Boies stated that the only claim made was in Florida, in 2009 for Prince Andrew. It was the third count of transporting someone to illegal sexual activities.
Prince Andrew appears on BBC Newsnight November 2019. Andrew denies that they shared a sweaty dance in a London club. Andrew said that it was because he had a health condition at that time.
Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein walk through New York’s Central Park after Jeffrey Epstein was released from prison in 2011.
“There are no allegations that Prince Andrew transported. It is not possible to allege that Prince Andrew was involved in trafficking. He was the one to whom girls were trafficked.
Judge Kaplan then closed the hearing, thanking each side for their arguments.
The judge told them that he would make a decision “pretty quickly”, but didn’t explain what that meant. He also stated that the’scheduling or’ was still in place while he deliberates.
The New York court made the agreement public yesterday. It shows that Ms. Giuffre accepted to let go of Epstein’s civil case for $500,000 in Florida.
A provision in the settlement was included that protects ‘other possible defendants’ from lawsuits related to Epstein’s alleged sexual abuse. Epstein died two years ago while serving a sentence.
Ms Giuffre filed a lawsuit against the prince last year for unspecified damages. She claimed that he had sexually assaulted and victimized her when she was 17, which is under American law.
Andrew, 61 years old, has not been charged with a crime. Ms Giuffre alleges that Andrew attacked her at Epstein’s New York home and on Epstein’s private island, the US Virgin Islands.
Jeffrey Epstein gets a foot massage from Ghislaine Maxille on the private jet, named “Lolita Express”. This photo was submitted to the US Attorney’s Office on December 7, and became evidence in Maxwell’s trial.
She claims he sexually assaulted her at the London residence of Ghislaine Maxiwell. Maxwell was recently found guilty for sex trading minors to Epstein.
After a month-long, high-profile trial, Maxwell was convicted of five out of six charges.
Epstein, who was charged with child sexual trafficking and died in Manhattan’s jail at the age of 66 in 2019, was declared dead by New York’s Coroner.
After a plea deal was made with the prosecutor, he was convicted of having paid young women for sexual massages at Florida’s mansion. He served only 13 months imprisonment.
Andrew was last seen out of public in 2019, when he had to leave the royal frontline because he failed to separate himself from Epstein.
An illustration of Ghislaine Maxwell in court as she is convicted in the sex abuse case against her in New York.
Andrew denied the claim by Ms Giuffre that they had been in a dance routine at London nightclubs. Andrew said that the reason he was unable to sweat at that time was due to his 1982 Falklands War service.
Andrew had to hand over records from his doctor proving he was unable sweat last week.
Andrew’s legal team accused Ms Giuffre, of trying to make a profit out of a “baseless lawsuit,” which is still very early in its life.
Friday’s hearing was held by Judge Kaplan. They tried to block the proceeding of the suit because Ms Giuffre resides in Australia.