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Jeffrey Epstein accuser urges Prince Andrew to 'come clean' | Jeffrey Epstein accuser urges Prince Andrew to 'come clean' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A woman who accused Jeffrey Epstein of sex abuse and alleged she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew as a 17-year-old has urged him to "come clean". | A woman who accused Jeffrey Epstein of sex abuse and alleged she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew as a 17-year-old has urged him to "come clean". |
Speaking after a hearing for alleged victims in the wake of Epstein's death, Virginia Giuffre told reporters the prince "knows what he's done". | Speaking after a hearing for alleged victims in the wake of Epstein's death, Virginia Giuffre told reporters the prince "knows what he's done". |
The Duke of York has previously denied these claims. | The Duke of York has previously denied these claims. |
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. |
The 66-year-old tycoon - who once counted President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew as friends - was found unresponsive in his prison cell on 10 August. | The 66-year-old tycoon - who once counted President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew as friends - was found unresponsive in his prison cell on 10 August. |
About 15 plaintiffs were given an opportunity to speak at the New York City court hearing that an end to the criminal case - which is now closed because of Epstein's death. | |
The women spoke of their anger, saying Epstein had cheated justice by taking his own life. | |
Prosecutors said the investigation was ongoing and charges could still be brought against any co-conspirators. | Prosecutors said the investigation was ongoing and charges could still be brought against any co-conspirators. |
What did Ms Giuffre say? | What did Ms Giuffre say? |
Ms Giuffre, 35, has alleged she was forced on three occasions to have sex with Prince Andrew, which he denies. | Ms Giuffre, 35, has alleged she was forced on three occasions to have sex with Prince Andrew, which he denies. |
She has accused Epstein of keeping her as a "sex slave". In court on Tuesday, she said: "My hopes were quickly dashed and my dreams were stolen." | She has accused Epstein of keeping her as a "sex slave". In court on Tuesday, she said: "My hopes were quickly dashed and my dreams were stolen." |
Ms Giuffre 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 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. |
When asked for a comment on Prince Andrew during a news conference after the hearing, Ms Giuffre said: "He knows what he's done and he can attest to that. He knows exactly what he's done and I hope he comes clean about it." | When asked for a comment on Prince Andrew during a news conference after the hearing, Ms Giuffre said: "He knows what he's done and he can attest to that. He knows exactly what he's done and I hope he comes clean about it." |
The prince has said it was "a mistake and an error" to see Epstein after his release from prison, and that he never saw or suspected criminal behaviour. | The prince has said it was "a mistake and an error" to see Epstein after his release from prison, and that he never saw or suspected criminal behaviour. |
What did the other accusers say? | What did the other 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." | 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". | 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. | 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." | "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." | 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. | 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." | 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." |
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. |
He targeted the young and vulnerable | |
Chris Buckler, BBC News, New York | |
This was testimony that should have been given during Epstein's trial. But cheated of that opportunity, the judge insisted it was only appropriate that it should be heard. | |
Some had written detailed accounts of their abuse, while others just said what they felt. None of it was easy. | |
Even in the quiet courtroom it was difficult to hear as one woman sobbed through a letter she had written to Epstein. The fact she had wanted to say something directly to him summed up the complicated relationship many had with a man who manipulated them. | |
Another woman said he had forced her into a "destructive" and exploitative relationship, but that it still didn't "feel good" when she heard that he had killed himself. | |
What shone through the stories was that there was a pattern to Epstein's behaviour. He targeted the young and vulnerable. | |
The girls he abused are now women. But robbed of their innocence and some of their childhood, it was clear that as adults they still feel the pain. | |
What was said about Epstein's death? | What was said about Epstein's death? |
Judge Richard Berman, who scheduled the hearing, began on Tuesday by observing that the case had taken "a rather stunning turn of events". | Judge Richard Berman, who scheduled the hearing, 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. | 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. | 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 vicinity. | 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 vicinity. |
It is unclear what was visible in this footage, or why the other video was not usable. | 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. | 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. |
Handling of that case - which deprived Epstein's accusers the chance to confront him in court - has been closely scrutinised in recent months. | 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. |