Jurors in Ghislaine Maxwell’s s.e.x crimes trial ended their third full day of deliberations without reaching a verdict in a case that could see the British socialite spend the rest of her life behind bars. Maxwell, who turned 60 on Christmas Day, is accused of recruiting and grooming young girls to be sexually abused by the late American financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The 12-person jury began considering Maxwell’s fate on December 20 after a three-week trial and were granted a holiday break from Thursday.
The jury reconvened on Monday morning and sent a note to Judge Alison Nathan requesting highlighter pens, coloured post-it notes and a whiteboard.
The jurors also asked for a legal definition of enticement and to review the transcript of testimony given by the ex-boyfriend of “Jane,” one of the four women who testified against Maxwell.
US prosecutors argued that the daughter of former British newspaper baron Robert Maxwell was a knowing participant in the conduct of Epstein, who killed himself in a US jail in 2019 while awaiting his own sex crimes trial.
Maxwell did not testify but in a defiant statement to the court said prosecutors had failed to prove her guilt.
The jury must reach a unanimous decision on any of the six counts facing Maxwell if she is to be convicted. If they fail to reach unanimity on any of the charges, the judge could declare a mistrial.
Nathan dismissed the jurors shortly after 5 pm and they will resume weighing Maxwell’s fate at 9 am on Tuesday.
Source: eNCA