Maxwell ‘arrogant, wholly unlikeable’
Test jurors: ‘Socialite is lacking credibility’
GHISLAINE Maxwell’s legal team have worries over her performance in front of a jury after dummy panels found her “wholly unlikeable”, a source close to her lawyers has said.
The feedback has caused such concern in the British ex-socialite’s camp they have allegedly held talks over brokering a deal with prosecutors.
Maxwell is set to enter the dock on November 29 over charges of sex trafficking a minor, sex trafficking conspiracy and grooming a 14-year-old girl to engage in sexual acts with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein from 2001 to 2004.
She has maintained her innocence since her arrest in July last year and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
In recent weeks, lawyers for Maxwell, 59, a friend of Prince Andrew, have been canvassing opinion ahead of her trial while also coaching her on how to reply to questions on the stand, our source told us.
The video test panels have reportedly been made up of residents from the areas the Southern District of New York will form the jury from.
But a source close to Maxwell’s legal team told the Mirror: “From the feedback they have had, there are real concerns. The response to Ghislaine has set alarm bells ringing.
“After showing them videos and coverage of the case, the dummy jurors were asked to give feedback.
“They described her as ‘wholly unlikeable’. They thought she was ‘arrogant’ and ‘suspicious’ while ‘lacking credibility’.”
The insight goes some way toward explaining the demands Maxwell’s team have asked of Judge Alison Nathan, who is to preside over the eight-week trial.
They had wanted to question prospective jurors behind closed doors to ensure a fair trial with an “open-minded jury”. However, the judge rejected the move, explaining the factors in the case “point strongly against deviation from standard practice”.
Last week, the court issued a draft document of the judge’s comments she would provide the jury before sending them out to consider their verdict.
Under the heading Improper Considerations, it read: “It would be improper for you to consider any personal feelings you may have about Ms Maxwell’s race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, age or any other such factor.”
Under Implicit Bias, Judge Nathan, 49, added that jurors should carry out their duties without “discrimination” for “economic circumstances” or be “influenced by personal likes and dislikes” of the defendant.
Yesterday it was reported that, prior to her arrest, US-based Maxwell had hired a lookalike to stroll around Paris in order to dupe the media over her whereabouts.
The woman was joined by a lookalike of Maxwell’s brother Kevin.
They were reportedly paid by her team to “support” the belief she had fled to France after Epstein’s death in 2019.
Meanwhile, ITV has commissioned a documentary about Maxwell. The film will feature interviews with key figures at the centre of the allegations, including alleged victims, and Maxwell’s siblings.
It will also cover the trial and examine how the youngest daughter of disgraced media tycoon Robert Maxwell ended up accused of being embroiled in a world of sex trafficking and grooming.
The panel’s response to Ghislaine has set alarm bells ringing
OUR SOURCE ON DUMMY JURY’S DISLIKE OF MAXWELL