Ghislaine Maxwell trial: Socialite targeted young girls and ‘served them up to be sexually abused’, court told

The full indictment against Ghislaine Maxwell lists six charges
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Ghislaine Maxwell preyed upon vulnerable young girls and lured them to massage rooms to be abused by predator Jeffrey Epstein, her New York trial has heard.

The British socialite is alleged to have gained the trust of teenage girls as young as 14 and normalised sex for her partner Epstein to abuse them between 1994 and 2004.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The full indictment against Maxwell lists six charges, including conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts and conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

Maxwell is also accused of transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, sex trafficking conspiracy, and sex trafficking of a minor.

The defendant is further alleged to have lied under oath by hiding her participation in Epstein’s offences during a separate civil case.

The court in the Southern District of New York heard Maxwell imposed a “culture of silence … by design” at Epstein’s properties, where staff were told to “see nothing, hear nothing and say nothing”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The court heard that while the “horrific abuse” was going on, the 59-year-old defendant lived a “life of luxury” – with the prosecution describing the alleged trafficking as a “means to support her lifestyle”.

Assistant United States Attorney Lara Pomerantz told jurors that Maxwell and Epstein’s youngest alleged victim, who was 14 when she was “recruited”, did not know that “this man and woman were predators”.

Opening the case against the defendant, Ms Pomerantz said: “This meeting was the beginning of that man and woman targeting (the victim) for sexual abuse that would last for years.”

Pointing to the defendant, Ms Pomerantz said: “Who was this woman? It was the defendant, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The defendant directed the girls into a room where she knew (Epstein) would molest them.

“There were times when she was in the room when it happened – making it all feel normal and casual.

“She preyed on vulnerable young girls, manipulated them and served them up to be sexually abused.

“The defendant was trafficking kids for sex. That is what this trial is all about.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Addressing how Maxwell would encourage the girls into sexual activity, Ms Pomerantz said: “Massages were the primary way the defendant and Epstein lured the girls into sexual abuse.

“But what was happening was not massage. It was sexual abuse.

“Calling it massage was a ruse. A ruse for the girls to touch Epstein.

“The defendant helped Epstein find these girls. She helped him recruit girls for so-called massages.

“She manipulated the girls and groomed them for abuse.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Even when she wasn’t in the room, she knew exactly what Epstein was going to do to those children when they went into those massage rooms.”

Ms Pomerantz told the court Maxwell and Epstein had an “intimate relationship” and when their relationship ended, they became “the best of friends”.

She continued: “During the 10 years the defendant and Epstein committed these crimes the defendant was the lady of the house.

“She ran Epstein’s various properties and she imposed rules not to talk directly with Epstein.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“When she took charge of these homes, the rules for staff were strict. Employees were to see nothing, hear nothing and say nothing.

“There was a culture of silence. That was by design. The defendant’s design. Because behind closed doors, the defendant and Epstein were committing heinous crimes.”

Concluding her opening, Ms Pomerantz added: “The defendant played an essential role in this scheme.

“She knew exactly what she was doing. She was dangerous.”

Defending Maxwell, Bobbi Sternheim told the jury: “The charges against Ghislaine Maxwell are for things Jeffrey Epstein did.

“But she is not Jeffrey Epstein.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“She is not like Jeffrey Epstein and she is not like the powerful white men and media giants who abuse women.

“Epstein is not on trial but his name and conduct will be mentioned throughout this trial.”

Maxwell, who has been held in a US jail since her arrest in July last year, denies all charges.

The trial continues.

Related topics: