Setback for Maxwell

GHISLAINE Maxwell appeared in court in person for the first time since April yesterday – and suffered a series of legal setbacks.

A judge dismissed her call to prevent women accusing her of trafficking them for sex being referred to as ‘victims’ in her upcoming trial.

Sitting in New York, Judge Alison Nathan also said that witnesses could testify using pseudonyms or simply their first names, something the Maxwell team had also opposed.

Yesterday’s rulings were in the final hearing before the socialite, 59, goes on trial at the end of the month charged with procuring underage girls for paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. She denies the charges.

Maxwell, pictured, wore a blue prison jump suit and a Covid mask as she fiddled with her hair and scribbled furiously on a notepad.

It came as her friend Prince Andrew – himself entangled in Epstein-related legal troubles – in which he emphatically denies any wrong-doing – was seen out and about on the Windsor estate yesterday.