Prince moves to have sex case dropped
NEW YORK: Prince Andrew’s lawyers were to use a court hearing yesterday to urge a New York judge to throw out a sexual assault lawsuit brought against the British royal in the United States.
His attorneys were expected to argue that a once-confidential settlement between accuser Virginia Giuffre and late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein unveiled on Monday protects Prince Andrew from litigation.
The hearing, to be held between the parties’ representatives via video conference with press and public able to listen in by telephone, was scheduled to start at 10am local time.
Ms Giuffre alleges that Epstein lent her out for sex with his wealthy and powerful associates, including Prince Andrew, an allegation the prince has repeatedly and strenuously denied.
A deal made public for the first time on Monday by a New York court shows that Ms Giuffre agreed to drop a civil case against Epstein for US$500,000 (about 16 million baht) in Florida in 2009.
The settlement contained a provision that purports to protect “other potential defendants” from being sued related to alleged sexual abuse committed by Epstein, who killed himself in jail two and a half years ago.
Lawyers for Queen Elizabeth II’s second son were to cite the agreement during yesterday’s oral arguments when they were to urge judge Lewis Kaplan to dismiss Ms Giuffre’s lawsuit against the prince.
Her attorneys have indicated they will argue that the settlement is “irrelevant” to her civil action against Prince Andrew and that the case must continue.
Ms Giuffre sued the prince for unspecified damages last year, alleging he sexually assaulted her in 2001 when she was 17 and a minor under American law.
The 61-year-old has not been criminally charged.
Ms Giuffre says Prince Andrew assaulted her at Epstein’s home in New York, and on his private island in the US Virgin Islands.
She alleges he also sexually abused her at the home of Ghislaine Maxwell, who was last week found guilty of trafficking minors for Epstein.