Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell pulls down her mask to sip from a cup as deliberations extended into a second week in a courtroom sketch in New York December 27, 2021. ― Reuters pic
NEW YORK, Dec 28 ― Jurors in British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex abuse trial deliberated for a third full day yesterday without reaching a verdict, after reviewing the testimony of one of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein’s personal pilots.
Maxwell, who turned 60 on Christmas Day, is accused of recruiting and grooming four teenage girls to have sexual encounters with Epstein, her ex-boyfriend and employer, between 1994 and 2004. Epstein killed himself in 2019 in a Manhattan jail cell while awaiting trial on sex abuse charges.
Jurors yesterday asked US District Judge Alison Nathan to review the account of David Rodgers, who testified on December 8 that on several occasions in the 1990s, he flew Epstein’s private jet with Epstein, Maxwell and an individual known by the pseudonym Jane on board.
Jane testified that Epstein began abusing her in 1994 when she was 14, and that Maxwell participated in some of their encounters.
Her case is at the heart of two of the six counts Maxwell faces: enticing a minor to travel for illegal sexual activity and transporting a minor for illegal sex acts.
Jane said the encounters often took place at Epstein’s Palm Beach, Florida, estate, but that she travelled to Epstein’s homes in New Mexico and New York, where abuse also took place.
Jurors yesterday asked Nathan for a definition of the word “enticement” and for the transcript of the testimony of Jane’s ex-boyfriend. The questions indicated they were scrutinizing her account, as well as the details of the charges based on it.
Maxwell has pleaded not guilty to all six counts. Her lawyers argue that prosecutors are scapegoating her because Epstein is dead, and that the accusers’ memories have been corrupted in the decades since the abuse allegedly occurred.
Before dismissing the jury yesterday, Nathan asked them to consider deliberating until 6pm ― one hour later than usual ― beginning today if they do not reach a verdict.
“I don’t mean to pressure you in any way,” Nathan said. “You should take all the time that you need.” ― Reuters