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| Jeffrey Epstein accusers vent their anger in court | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Women who accuse financier Jeffrey Epstein of sex abuse have spoken of their anger that he cheated justice by dying in prison. | |
| About 15 plaintiffs got the chance to speak out in a Manhattan court as the criminal case was dismissed. | |
| A coroner ruled Epstein killed himself this month while awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges. | A coroner ruled Epstein killed himself this month while awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges. |
| Prosecutors said the investigation was ongoing and charges could still be brought against any co-conspirators. | |
| The 66-year-old tycoon - who once counted Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew as friends - was found unresponsive in his prison cell on 10 August. | |
| What did the accusers say? | What did the accusers say? |
| Courtney Wild, who has alleged Epstein sexually abused her when she was 14, told the court on Tuesday: "I feel very angry and sad. Justice has never been served in this case." | |
| Ms Wild, who says she was recruited to be a masseuse for Epstein on his private plane dubbed "the Lolita Express", called him a "coward" who was able to "manipulate our justice system". | |
| Jennifer Araoz, who says Epstein raped her at his New York mansion when she was 15, told the court: "He robbed me of my dreams, of my chance to pursue a career I adored. | |
| "The fact I will never have a chance to face my predator in court eats away at me. They let this man kill himself and kill the chance for justice for so many others." | |
| Another woman, Chauntae Davies, told the court: "I will not let him win in death." | |
| Ms Davies said she was raped by Epstein on his private island after being hired to give him massages. | |
| Another woman, who chose to withhold her name, fought back tears as she told the court: "We do need to know how he died. It felt like a whole new trauma. It didn't feel good to wake up that morning and find that he allegedly committed suicide." | |
| Virginia Giuffre, who accused Epstein of keeping her as a "sex slave", said in court: "My hopes were quickly dashed and my dreams were stolen." | |
| She has said in a court deposition she was a 15 year old working at Mr Trump's Mar-a-Lago golf resort in Florida when she was approached by British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell to give massages to Epstein. | |
| Ms Giuffre has also alleged she was forced on three occasions to have sex with Prince Andrew, which he denies. | |
| A number of accusers have filed lawsuits against Epstein's estate. Two days before his death, he signed a will funnelling his $577m (£475m) in assets to a trust fund. | A number of accusers have filed lawsuits against Epstein's estate. Two days before his death, he signed a will funnelling his $577m (£475m) in assets to a trust fund. |
| What was said about Epstein's death? | |
| Judge Richard Berman, who scheduled the hearing last week, began on Tuesday by observing that the case had taken "a rather stunning turn of events". | Judge Richard Berman, who scheduled the hearing last week, began on Tuesday by observing that the case had taken "a rather stunning turn of events". |
| Reid Weingarten, an attorney for Epstein, asked the judge to look into the circumstances of his client's death. | Reid Weingarten, an attorney for Epstein, asked the judge to look into the circumstances of his client's death. |
| The financier died of "suicide by hanging" in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, according to a New York medical examiner. | |
| Mr Weingarten said the defence was "sceptical of the certitude of the medical examiner's conclusion that this was suicide", citing issues with video surveillance. | Mr Weingarten said the defence was "sceptical of the certitude of the medical examiner's conclusion that this was suicide", citing issues with video surveillance. |
| Brad Edwards, a lawyer representing Epstein's accusers, told the court that the financier's "untimely death" was "curious" and made it impossible for the alleged victims to find justice. | |
| Authorities have told the Washington Post that one hallway camera near Epstein's prison cell has unusable footage, though clearer footage was captured in the area. | Authorities have told the Washington Post that one hallway camera near Epstein's prison cell has unusable footage, though clearer footage was captured in the area. |
| It is unclear what was visible in this footage, or why the other video was not usable. | |
| The FBI and Department of Justice are investigating the incident to determine if there was any foul play. | |
| What was Epstein charged with? | What was Epstein charged with? |
| Epstein was accused of paying girls under the age of 18 to perform sex acts at his Manhattan and Florida mansions between 2002-05. | Epstein was accused of paying girls under the age of 18 to perform sex acts at his Manhattan and Florida mansions between 2002-05. |
| He was also alleged to have paid large amounts of money to two potential witnesses ahead of his trial, which was scheduled for next year. | He was also alleged to have paid large amounts of money to two potential witnesses ahead of his trial, which was scheduled for next year. |
| Epstein, who pleaded not guilty, was facing up to 45 years in prison if convicted. | Epstein, who pleaded not guilty, was facing up to 45 years in prison if convicted. |
| He was arrested on 6 July after landing in New Jersey on his private jet. | He was arrested on 6 July after landing in New Jersey on his private jet. |
| Epstein avoided similar charges in a controversial secret plea deal in 2008, instead pleading guilty to a lesser charge. | Epstein avoided similar charges in a controversial secret plea deal in 2008, instead pleading guilty to a lesser charge. |
| The handling of that case - which deprived Epstein's accusers the chance to confront him in court - has been closely scrutinised in recent months. | |
| In July US Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, a former Miami prosecutor, resigned over his role in the plea deal. | |