Prince Andrew was final night time accused of a ‘tone-deaf’ defence in his authorized battle with Virginia Roberts after his legal professionals instructed she could have ‘false reminiscences’ of her encounters with him.
In a scathing response to the duke’s demand for Miss Roberts’s psychological well being data, her lawyer David Boies stated: ‘She would not misremember sexual abuse by a prince of England.’
The declare about reminiscence points was made by Andrew in authorized filings over the weekend within the case introduced towards him by Miss Roberts at a court docket in New York.
Virginia Roberts photographed with Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell in early 2001. Miss Roberts’ lawyer used image of her with Andrew to assault his defence
She claims she had intercourse with Andrew 3 times when she was 17 in 2001 whereas beneath the management of Jeffrey Epstein, the late paedophile who was pals with the duke. Andrew has vehemently denied her allegations.
His legal professionals have requested to interview Miss Roberts’s psychologist, Dr Judith Lightfoot, about all their classes, any prescriptions that had been issued and the ‘concept of false reminiscences’.
Ghislaine Maxwell used a ‘false reminiscence knowledgeable’ throughout her trial for trafficking and recruiting underage ladies for Epstein, however was discovered responsible on 5 of six counts.
Mr Boies advised the Day by day Mail: ‘That is precisely what Maxwell tried. It did not finish nicely. Folks could misremember a whole lot of issues, however they do not misremember sexual abuse by a prince of England.
‘As well as, Prince Andrew must say that each one the opposite individuals who noticed them collectively even have “false reminiscences”.’
Referring to the infamous photograph of Andrew with Miss Roberts in 2001 in London, Mr Boies added: ‘And the way does a “false reminiscence” create {a photograph}?’
The filings from Andrew’s US lawyer, Andrew Brettler, requested assist from the Australian authorities to query Dr Lightfoot.
Heading out: Prince and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson look downcast leaving Windsor at weekend
Miss Roberts, now a 38-year-old mother-of-three, at the moment lives in Australia and goes by her married identify, Virginia Giuffre.
The authorized submitting said: ‘Defendant contends that plaintiff could undergo from false reminiscences, as evidenced by the truth that her claims concerning her time with Epstein and the circumstances beneath which defendant allegedly assaulted her have repeatedly modified through the years.’
A supply near the duke advised the Sunday Occasions that specializing in false reminiscences was from the ‘Maxwell playbook’. The ways of Andrew’s authorized crew have additionally triggered a ‘sufferer blaming’ row.
Brad Edwards, a Florida lawyer who represents dozens of Epstein victims, known as the technique ‘so tone-deaf that it mainly quantities to litigation suicide’.
He stated: ‘Taking one other play out of the Epstein/Maxwell guide and attacking Virginia might be the one factor he can do to look worse. I would say his defence cannot worsen, however final time I assumed that he went on TV and gave what amounted to essentially the most embarrassingly silly interview of all time.’
Spencer Kuvin, a Florida lawyer who represents a number of Epstein victims, stated attacking a sufferer’s reminiscence was a ‘horrible’ defence.
Miss Roberts holding a photograph of herself at 16 years outdated, when she says Jeffrey Epstein started abusing her sexually
He stated: ‘It is a basic “re-abuse” of the sufferer and an try and implicitly embarrass the sufferer in an try and intimidate them and hope the embarrassment and public shaming will make them drop their claims.’
Legal professional Gloria Allred, who additionally represents quite a few Epstein victims, stated: ‘The prince is entitled to take the deposition of Virginia’s therapist for the aim of figuring out emotional misery. That’s not unusual.
‘The court docket could have to find out her questions, eg: do they go over the road. It is OK to ask the therapist about remedy, if she suffered issues to establish if she suffered emotional misery, and if her misery is brought on by different points.
‘If there are questions which aren’t applicable which will should be determined by the court docket.
‘Prince Andrew claims he cannot keep in mind even assembly her. If he has a therapist she might take the deposition of his therapist if he has one.
‘Is Andrew’s reminiscence of not recollecting assembly her, is {that a} false reminiscence out of self-interest?
‘He could have – perhaps not a false reminiscence – however he could have a selective reminiscence that remembers sure information however not others.’
The case is shifting forward after Choose Lewis Kaplan final week rejected a request by Andrew to dismiss it.
Afterwards, the Queen stripped Andrew of all his army patronages and the usage of the type His Royal Highness, successfully isolating him from the household.
With a trial tentatively set for September, Andrew might settle the case however will reportedly should pay as a lot as £10million.
The duke’s crew have additionally requested to interview Miss Roberts’s husband Robert beneath oath.
A supply stated: ‘Mrs Giuffre put her psychological well being at concern by suing for emotional misery damages.
‘The duke’s authorized crew are completely entitled to check her claims, decide her damages, if any, and see what she advised her therapist or not.’