Ghislaine Maxwell’s bid for new trial DENIED as US judge upholds sex trafficking conviction
GHISLAINE Maxwell's conviction for sex trafficking has been upheld by a US judge.
Jeffrey Epstein's former partner had requested a retrial after a juror admitted in a TV interview that he had been sexually abused.
He falsely stated before the trial that he had not been.
Maxwell's lawyers argued that because the juror had been abused in the past, he couldn't be impartial in such a case.
But a US court ruled the juror still "testified credibly and truthfully" and "harboured no bias towards Ghislaine Maxwell and could serve as a fair and impartial juror".
Scotty David, Juror No 50, was questioned in court on March 8 about his original omission, which he later said was an "honest mistake".
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After Maxwell was convicted, David, 35, discussed experiencing sexual abuse as a child in a series of interviews.
He said in one interview he didn't remember being asked a question about sexual abuse in the questionnaire.
David claimed that he told the jury about what had happened so that they could understand things from a victim's perspective.
He said he had persuaded some of his fellow jurors that just because a victim's memory of abuse can be hazy doesn't mean it didn't happen.
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Would-be jurors were asked in a questionnaire before the trial a series of questions, including: "Have you or a friend ever been the victim of sexual harassment, sexual abuse or sexual assault?"
After David's interviews were broadcast, prosecutors requested an inquiry into his comments.
Maxwell's lawyers also made a similar request, and repeatedly asked for a retrial.
Prosecutors argued against a new trial, pointing to David's insistence that he didn't intentionally leave out his abuse.
He told the judge Alison Nathan that he was distracted while he quickly completed a screening questionnaire for the prospective jurors.
David told the judge his failure to mention his childhood sexual abuse was an "honest mistake" and that he was deeply remorseful.
The juror said he "skimmed way too fast" through the questionnaire and didn't intentionally give the wrong answer to the question.
"I didn't lie in order to get on this jury," he said.
He called the error "one of the biggest mistakes" of his life.
The question about sexual assault was reportedly on page 48 of a 50-page questionnaire.
David was given immunity to testify, after previously indicating he would invoke his fifth amendment right against self-incrimination.
In court papers, prosecutors said: "After the thoughtful and thorough hearing held by this court, it is crystal clear that the defendant received a fair trial.
"Juror 50's sworn testimony at the hearing made evident that he did not deliberately lie in completing the questionnaire, but that he instead made an honest mistake."
On Friday, Judge Nathan said of David: "His failure to disclose his prior sexual abuse during the jury selection process was highly unfortunate, but not deliberate.
"The court further concludes that Juror 50 harboured no bias toward the defendant and could serve as a fair and impartial juror."
Maxwell's lawyers have vowed to appeal the guilty verdict.
It is crystal clear that the defendant received a fair trial
Prosecutors
Maxwell, 60, the daughter of the late disgraced media baron Robert Maxwell, was found guilty of sex trafficking and related charges on December 29 last year.
She brought girls as young as 14 to the late-financier Jeffrey Epstein for him to abuse but continues to insist she's innocent.
During her trial, she was described as "dangerous" and a serial predator by prosecutors, who lured vulnerable young girls to Epstein.
The crimes took place at Epstein's various properties between 1994 and 2004.
However, her lawyers insisted she didn't know how depraved he was and argued she was being tried for his crimes.
She was arrested by the FBI in July 2020 in Bedford, New Hampshire, near the home believed to belong to her new boyfriend.
Maxwell faces up to 65 years in prison when she is sentenced on June 28.
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Epstein, a convicted sex offender once linked to Prince Andrew, was arrested in July 2019 for sex trafficking.
He was found dead in his prison cell a month later.