‘Explosive’ court papers blocked by Ghislaine
Body found in hunt for teen
A BODY has been found in a lake in the hunt for a missing 15-year-old boy last seen near an Essex shopping centre.
The teenager was reported missing at Lakeside Shopping Centre in Thurrock on
Friday evening.
The search involving police divers was stopped around midnight and resumed yesterday with the discovery made shortly before 1pm.
Essex Police said: “Officers searching for the missing 15-year-old boy at Alexandra Lake, Thurrock, have suspended their search following the discovery of a body.
“The family have been informed that the search has been suspended. Formal identification will take place in due course.”
Superintendent Craig Saunders of Essex Police said: “I want to thank the local community, and all those involved who have helped with the investigation.”
Police divers in a dinghy had searched the lake by a new inflatable water park which had more than 30 obstacles including giant slides and monkey bars.
SOCIALITE Ghislaine Maxwell has won her fight to block the release of a wave of “highly intrusive” court documents.
The potentially explosive papers were due to be released tomorrow but they will now remain secret until September. Maxwell, 58, is the daughter of media tycoon Robert Maxwell and was a friend of both Prince Andrew and the late US paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Last month, she was arrested by the FBI on suspicion of grooming and abusing three girls under the age of 18. The news comes as fresh allegations have emerged that Prince Andrew flew to Epstein’s isolated Zorro ranch in New Mexico where it is claimed he met the disgraced financier’s alleged teenage sex slave Virginia Giuffre alone. The allegations come in the first draft of newly released court documents. Last week saw further fresh claims in the longrunning scandal surrounding Andrew, including that he allegedly lobbied the US government to give Epstein a plea deal when the paedophile was charged in 2007 with soliciting a minor for prostitution. The newly released court documents claim Epstein allegedly once forced then-underage Virginia to have sex with Prince Andrew in order to gather incriminating evidence so that he could blackmail the royal.
Virginia, who has been widely praised for her bravery in pursuing Epstein, alleges she was alone with the Duke of York for two days at the ranch, during which he is said to have enjoyed some massages.
Yesterday, a spokesman for the Duke of York declined to comment.
However, Virginia’s claim was met with shock by his friends.
One told the Sunday Express: “The Zorro ranch account is a serious inconsistency. Ms Giuffre’s lawyers have always claimed three alleged encounters – London, New York and Little St James. And now this fourth allegation. How so?
“Why has this never been raised before? And where is the evidence? I’d suggest you put these questions to her lawyers, not to the Duke.”
As a result of the controversy, Andrew stepped down from royal duties last year.
He has vehemently denied Virginia’s claims, saying he does not recall ever meeting her.
Maxwell has successfully prevented more documents being released including a “highly intrusive” deposition she gave during her civil case with Virginia following an appeal by her lawyers.
She has been indicted on four charges. If found guilty, she faces up to 35 years in prison.
Maxwell has pleaded not guilty and is due for trial in New York in July 2021.