{"id":20715,"date":"2021-12-17T18:52:57","date_gmt":"2021-12-17T23:52:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/?p=20715"},"modified":"2021-12-17T18:52:57","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T23:52:57","slug":"ghislaine-maxwell-declines-to-testify-and-rests-her-case-calling-prosecutions-arguments-unproven","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/2021\/12\/17\/ghislaine-maxwell-declines-to-testify-and-rests-her-case-calling-prosecutions-arguments-unproven\/","title":{"rendered":"Ghislaine Maxwell declines to testify and rests her case calling prosecution&#8217;s arguments &#8220;unproven&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\"><b class=\"ssrcss-hmf8ql-BoldText e5tfeyi3\">Ghislaine Maxwell has rested her sex-trafficking case after calling the prosecution&#8217;s arguments against her &#8220;unproven&#8221; and declining to testify.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Her decision comes after her lawyers called nine witnesses over two days.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Ms Maxwell, 59, denies grooming underage girls for abuse by the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Closing arguments begin on Monday. The Briton faces up to 80 years in prison if convicted on charges of sex trafficking and perjury.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">&#8220;The government has not proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt and so there is no need for me to testify,&#8221; Ms Maxwell, who has been in a US jail cell since her arrest last year, told the judge in court on Friday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Prosecutors have called Ms Maxwell a predator who manipulated young girls and served them up to Epstein, her former boyfriend and business associate. Over two weeks of testimony, they called 24 witnesses, including four accusers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"unordered-list-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1pzprxn-BulletListContainer e5tfeyi0\">\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li><a class=\"ssrcss-9nsdc6-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-us-canada-49318300\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Who is Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein&#8217;s ex-girlfriend?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"ssrcss-9nsdc6-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-us-canada-48913377\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Who was Jeffrey Epstein?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"ssrcss-9nsdc6-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-us-canada-59527051\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Key moments so far in Ghislaine Maxwell trial<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">But her lawyers argued that accusers&#8217; testimony was impacted by &#8220;[lapses in] memory, manipulation and money&#8221;. They also alleged the government needed a scapegoat for Epstein&#8217;s crimes.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15145\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15145\" style=\"width: 528px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Jeffrey-Epstein2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-15145\" src=\"http:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Jeffrey-Epstein2.jpg\" alt=\"Jeffrey Epstein\" width=\"528\" height=\"297\" srcset=\"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Jeffrey-Epstein2.jpg 528w, https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Jeffrey-Epstein2-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15145\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jeffrey Epstein (Image: Reuters)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Epstein died in a jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">A spokesperson for the Maxwell family had previously said she would not take the stand because she was &#8220;too fragile&#8221; after being poorly treated in detention.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Ms Maxwell&#8217;s defence team meanwhile complained on Friday that they needed more time to gather their witnesses.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">&#8220;We are flying people across the country, across the pond, our client&#8217;s life is on the line, and we are given only a half a day to put on a witness,&#8221; said attorney Laura Menninger.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Judge Alison Nathan rebuked the lawyers for not having their witnesses ready and refused to delay the trial.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">&#8220;I have a rule, you have your next witness or you rest,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Earlier, lawyers brought in two FBI agents to testify about discrepancies between recent testimony by Ms Maxwell&#8217;s accusers and their law enforcement statements.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">A former girlfriend of Epstein &#8211; Eva Andersson-Dubin &#8211; also testified for the defence on Friday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">A former physician and Miss Sweden winner, she said she had dated Epstein on and off from 1983 to 1991 and that her children called him &#8220;Uncle Jeff&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">She denied involvement in group sexual encounters with a Maxwell accuser who testified last week.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">But when pressed by prosecutors about the extent of her memory, she said &#8220;I can&#8217;t remember the past&#8230; sometimes I can&#8217;t remember what happened a month ago.&#8221; She said it was because of a health issue.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Mrs Andersson-Dubin married billionaire hedge fund manager Glenn Dubin in 1994 and the couple was close to both Epstein and Ms Maxwell.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">The four were discussed in 2016 depositions of Virginia Giuffre, the most vocal Epstein accuser, and Rinaldo Rizzo, a former butler to the Dubins.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Mrs Giuffre has claimed the Dubins were her first sexual encounter &#8220;after my training&#8221; by Ms Maxwell, while Mr Rizzo had said he recalled that a 15-year-old girl came into his kitchen and said she had been pressured into sex on Epstein&#8217;s private island.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">The couple have vigorously denied these allegations, saying they &#8220;were horrified by and completely unaware of Jeffrey Epstein&#8217;s unspeakable conduct&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i85\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17j9f6r-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Mrs Andersson-Dubin previously defended Epstein in his 2008 state sex crimes case in Florida, writing in a testimonial that she &#8220;could not ask for a better friend or godfather to my children&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-us-canada-59703611\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\">Ghislaine Maxwell has rested her sex-trafficking case after calling the prosecution&#8217;s arguments against her &#8220;unproven&#8221; and declining to testify. Her decision comes after her lawyers called nine witnesses over two days. Ms Maxwell, 59, denies <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/2021\/12\/17\/ghislaine-maxwell-declines-to-testify-and-rests-her-case-calling-prosecutions-arguments-unproven\/\" title=\"Ghislaine Maxwell declines to testify and rests her case calling prosecution&#8217;s arguments &#8220;unproven&#8221;\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20716,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[109,2,4,3],"tags":[6865,316,521,5238,6754,6508],"class_list":{"0":"post-20715","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-headline","8":"category-news","9":"category-uk","10":"category-usa","11":"tag-ghislaine-maxwell","12":"tag-jeffrey-epstein","13":"tag-new-york","14":"tag-sex-trafficking","15":"tag-virginia-giuffre","16":"tag-virginia-roberts","17":"pmpro-has-access"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20715","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20715"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20715\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20718,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20715\/revisions\/20718"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20716"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20715"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20715"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20715"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}