Prince Andrew’s accuser Virginia Roberts was ‘available’ to give evidence at Ghislaine Maxwell’s child sex trafficking trial – but nobody called her, the court was told.
Miss Roberts – now Virginia Giuffre – was allegedly recruited as a schoolgirl sex slave by Maxwell and forced into abuse by Epstein and his friends, including the Duke of York, who strenuously denies the claims.
Miss Roberts has been a running feature of the case, having flown 32 times on Epstein’s ‘Lolita Express’ private jet with the multi-millionaire financier and Maxwell, as well as recruiting schoolgirl Carolyn for alleged abuse, jurors heard. But neither side has summoned the 38-yearold witness.
Virginia Roberts (now Giuffre) claims she was available for testimony at the trial
The prosecution failed to explain the reason it did so. However, they might have fear that some inconsistencies from her story which has been widely reported over many years might not be helpful.
The defense could have called Miss Roberts to testify, who claims Maxwell is responsible for her death. In a hearing on Saturday, prosecutors taunted Maxwell’s defence lawyers by saying they could have invited Miss Roberts to take the stand but had chosen not to.
Andrew Rohrbach said: ‘The most obvious witness who was available to both sides and who we expect the defence to comment on is Virginia Roberts, who was described as a victim but did not testify and she was fully available to the defendants. They did not call her.’
Maxwell is facing death in prison if convicted on six child sex-trafficking charges. Maxwell has denied the allegations.
Maxwell allegedly made Mrs Giuffre a schoolgirl-sex slave and then forced her into abuse by Epstein, his friends and the Duke of York who strenuously denied the allegations
Maxwell will face the end of her New York trial on Friday. Judge Alison Nathan indicated that jury members could be sent to commence their deliberations as soon as tonight.
The British socialite’s lawyers have accused prosecutors of going after her rather than Epstein’s ‘co-conspirators’ such as Sarah Kellen, who has been dubbed the paedophile’s ‘lieutenant’.
On Friday evening, Maxwell said there was ‘no need’ for her to give testimony in her defence because prosecutors had failed to prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Maxwell is innocent of six child sex-trafficking charges and could face death in prison if convicted.
In court, her demeanour has changed from looking confident to appearing panicked and upset with her £5 million legal team.