Maxwell prosecutors can call her accusers ‘victims’ in sex case
PROSECUTORS in Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex trafficking case can use the word “victim” for her accusers, a judge has ruled.
Lawyers for Maxwell, who has been charged with procuring and grooming underage girls for the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, argued yesterday that using the term could bias the jury.
But US district judge Alison Nathan said in a hearing in New York that it would be “unnecessary and impractical” to exclude use of the term, adding that she could revisit the decision if the prosecution were using it in a “prejudicial” way.
She said: “I will of course instruct the jury repeatedly that the defendant is presumed innocent.”
Maxwell, 59, was led into the courtroom with handcuffs and ankle restraints, which were later removed, and wearing a white face mask.
The British media heiress and former girlfriend of Epstein was arrested in July last year.
She has pleaded not guilty to six counts of sex trafficking and other crimes regarding her alleged recruitment of girls to give Epstein what prosecutors described as “sexualised massages”. Jury selection for the trial is due to begin this Thursday with opening arguments starting on November 29.
Meanwhile, Maxwell’s brother Ian has claimed her treatment in jail is a “fundamental abuse of human rights designed to break her”.
Her lawyers released an image in April that appeared to show her with a black eye. Mr Maxwell told Sky News last week: “I don’t see Ghislaine administering a black eye to herself.
“I think she has suffered some occasional physical abuse at the hands of her guards, yes.”
He also suggested she might not get a fair trial, with the prosecution wanting to punish her for Epstein’s crimes. Mr Maxwell added: “We are going to take it to the UN. America has to be held to account and it will be.”
The US Federal Bureau of Prisons responded, saying: “We are committed to ensuring the safety of all inmates.”
Maxwell is set to mark turning 60 behind bars. Her birthday on Christmas Day is likely to fall during the trial which is due to last a month.