Ghislaine Maxwell found guilty...

[Nom De Plume]

Tackle pay stagnation to help Britons with soaring living costs, urges TUC
Phoenix set to play despite COVID-19 cases

British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell has been convicted of luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by American financier and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The verdict capped a month-long trial featuring sordid accounts of the sexual exploitation of girls as young as 14, told by four women who described being abused as teens in the 1990s and early 2000s at Epstein’s palatial homes in Florida, New York and New Mexico.

Jurors deliberated for five full days before finding Maxwell guilty on five of six counts.

She was convicted of conspiracy to entice a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, conspiracy to transport a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors and sex trafficking of minors, the last of which carries a statutory maximum of 40 years in prison.

She was acquitted of enticing a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts.

Maxwell could be sentenced to decades in prison.

She also faces two perjury counts that will be tried separately.

As the verdict was read, Maxwell appeared to show little reaction behind a black mask.

She stood with her hands folded as the jury filed out, and glanced at her siblings as she herself was led from the courtroom.

Maxwell had jetsetting lifestyle
The defence had insisted Maxwell was a victim of a vindictive prosecution devised to deliver justice to women deprived of their main villain when Epstein killed himself while awaiting trial in 2019.

During the trial, prosecutors called 24 witnesses to give jurors a picture of life inside Epstein's homes — a subject of public fascination and speculation ever since his 2006 arrest in Florida in a child sex case.

A housekeeper testified he was expected to be "blind, deaf and dumb" about the private lives of Epstein, a financier who cultivated friendships with influential politicians and business tycoons, and Maxwell, who had led a jetsetting lifestyle as the favourite child of a media mogul.

Pilots took the witness stand and dropped the names of luminaries — Britain's Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, Donald Trump — who flew on Epstein's private jets.

Jurors saw physical evidence like a folding massage table once used by Epstein and a "black book" that listed contact information for some of the victims under the heading "massages".

There were bank records showing he had transferred $30.7 million to Maxwell, his longtime companion, one-time girlfriend and, later, employee.

But the core of the prosecution was the testimony of four women who said they were victimised by Maxwell and Epstein at tender ages.

Three testified using first names or pseudonyms to protect their privacy: Jane, a television actress; Kate, a former model from Great Britain; and Carolyn, now a mother recovering from drug addiction.

The fourth was Annie Farmer, a psychologist who chose to use her real name after being vocal about her allegations in recent years.

They echoed one another in their descriptions of Maxwell’s behaviour: She used charm and gifts to gain their trust, taking an interest in their adolescent challenges and giving them assurances that Epstein could use his wealth and connections to fulfil their dreams.

More to come.

Reuters/AP

[Aussie]

Tackle pay stagnation to help Britons with soaring living costs, urges TUC
Phoenix set to play despite COVID-19 cases

British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell has been convicted of luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by American financier and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The verdict capped a month-long trial featuring sordid accounts of the sexual exploitation of girls as young as 14, told by four women who described being abused as teens in the 1990s and early 2000s at Epstein’s palatial homes in Florida, New York and New Mexico.

Jurors deliberated for five full days before finding Maxwell guilty on five of six counts.

She was convicted of conspiracy to entice a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, conspiracy to transport a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors and sex trafficking of minors, the last of which carries a statutory maximum of 40 years in prison.

She was acquitted of enticing a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts.

Maxwell could be sentenced to decades in prison.

She also faces two perjury counts that will be tried separately.

As the verdict was read, Maxwell appeared to show little reaction behind a black mask.

She stood with her hands folded as the jury filed out, and glanced at her siblings as she herself was led from the courtroom.

Maxwell had jetsetting lifestyle
The defence had insisted Maxwell was a victim of a vindictive prosecution devised to deliver justice to women deprived of their main villain when Epstein killed himself while awaiting trial in 2019.

During the trial, prosecutors called 24 witnesses to give jurors a picture of life inside Epstein's homes — a subject of public fascination and speculation ever since his 2006 arrest in Florida in a child sex case.

A housekeeper testified he was expected to be "blind, deaf and dumb" about the private lives of Epstein, a financier who cultivated friendships with influential politicians and business tycoons, and Maxwell, who had led a jetsetting lifestyle as the favourite child of a media mogul.

Pilots took the witness stand and dropped the names of luminaries — Britain's Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, Donald Trump — who flew on Epstein's private jets.

Jurors saw physical evidence like a folding massage table once used by Epstein and a "black book" that listed contact information for some of the victims under the heading "massages".

There were bank records showing he had transferred $30.7 million to Maxwell, his longtime companion, one-time girlfriend and, later, employee.

But the core of the prosecution was the testimony of four women who said they were victimised by Maxwell and Epstein at tender ages.

Three testified using first names or pseudonyms to protect their privacy: Jane, a television actress; Kate, a former model from Great Britain; and Carolyn, now a mother recovering from drug addiction.

The fourth was Annie Farmer, a psychologist who chose to use her real name after being vocal about her allegations in recent years.

They echoed one another in their descriptions of Maxwell’s behaviour: She used charm and gifts to gain their trust, taking an interest in their adolescent challenges and giving them assurances that Epstein could use his wealth and connections to fulfil their dreams.

More to come.

Reuters/AP

Copy 'n paste contribution as usual.

[Bobby]

Are they gunna hang her?

[Redneck]

Long way to go yet, appeals coming up no doubt!

[Bobby]

Long way to go yet, appeals coming up no doubt!

Unless they hang her people will say there's no justice.

[Black Orchid]

Likely she'll 'commit suicide' in the not too distant future.

[Bobby]

Likely she'll 'commit suicide' in the not too distant future.

Yes - just like her boyfriend Jeff.
Also - she knows too much -
dozens of celebrities were involved in her activities.

[Jim Lahey]

Like an orange bloated blob?

[sprintcyclist]

Likely she'll 'commit suicide' in the not too distant future.

Her life expectancy has decreased.

[Valkie]

The powers must have found her little black book and video collection.

It would be interesting to see just what she had.
How many rich and powerful people she had info on.

But it will never see the light of day now.
They have found it and now it's in the hands of others,
Others willing and well capable of using it.

Strange days ahead.