Prince Andrew fought against charges in New York by all means. That didn’t work. The British aristocrat has to stand trial for sexual abuse.
- Prince Andrew, son of the Queen from Great Britain, faces a court of law for sexual harassment.
- Virginia Giuffre accuses Prince Andrew of abusing her when she was 17.
- Attempts to prevent an indictment in the United States fail. A judge admits the lawsuit.
Update from Wednesday, January 12th, 2022, 4.15 p.m.: Prince Andrew has to go to court. His attempts to prevent a sexual abuse lawsuit failed. An application for non-admission before the competent court in New York was denied. The trial against the Queen’s son can now be negotiated.
Update from Tuesday, January 4th, 2022, 12:00 p.m.: Despite the guilty verdict for the string puller Ghislaine Maxwell, the US scandal surrounding a ring for the abuse of underage girls’ customers continues to circulate. In a civil court in New York, allegations against Prince Andrew were raised again on Tuesday.
The son of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II is said to have molested a woman 20 years ago, but has always denied the allegations. The American Virginia Giuffre claims that the now deceased multimillionaire Jeffrey Epstein and his ex-partner Maxwell made her a sex slave together with dozens of other minors when she was 17. In this context, she also accuses Andrew, but his defense lawyers want the case to be settled.
Abuse of Epstein and Maxwell: Prince Andrew’s lawyers want to prevent charges
On Tuesday, an out-of-court settlement from 2009 is also at the center of talks between the prosecution and the defense. In it Giuffre agreed with Epstein to refrain “forever” from accusing people from Epstein’s environment who could be considered “potential defendants”. The agreement relates to everything that has happened “from the beginning of the world to the day of the agreement,” the document goes on to say.
Virginia Roberts – Giuffres name at the time – received a payment of 500,000 dollars (around 330,000 euros in November 2009). The civil court must now clarify whether Giuffre has forfeited possible claims against Andrew through this settlement. His lawyers argue that the 2009 agreement with Epstein prevents prosecution. Giuffres lawyers oppose that the settlement with Epstein has no relevance for a possible civil case against Andrew. There is no criminal case against Andrew in the USA.
Prince Andrew: Fate Week for the Queen’s Son
First report: New York – The year 2021 ended with a bang: the jury found Ghislaine Maxwell, long-time partner and confidante of Jeffrey Epstein, guilty on five of six counts. But what effect does this have on the case of Prince Andrew, after all, he was considered an acquaintance of Eppstein?
The fact is, this week will not be an easy one for the son of Queen Elizabeth II. On Tuesday (January 4th, 2022) a hearing in New York will be all about Prince Andrew. The prince hopes to clear the allegations that have been made against him. But what are his chances?
Prince Andrew in court: Hearing decides possible process
Virginia Giuffre is filing serious charges against the Duke of York in a civil lawsuit. He is said to have raped her several times when she was 17 years old. She is said to have been hired as a masseuse by Jeffrey Epstein at the time. Prince Andrew rejects the allegations, admitting not being able to remember ever meeting Giuffre. On the other hand, there is a photo that is currently circulating. It shows how the prince puts his arm around the waist of the then 17-year-old.
Another problem the Queen’s son faces is his failure to substantiate one of his greatest pieces of evidence of his innocence, reports The Daily Beast. Giuffre stated in a BBC interview in 2019 that the prince “sweated all over” in a nightclub. However, in an interview with Newsnights, Prince Andrew countered that he couldn’t sweat at all. This is due to a post-traumatic disorder that he contracted during his time in the Navy. However, his team has not yet been able to prove this.
Hearing in New York: Fateful Day for Prince Andrew
Another alibi from Prince Andrew seems to be faltering. The Times reported that the prince said he was on a pizza express the night he was accused of raping Giuffre. But Andrew does not seem to be able to call any witnesses to corroborate his pizza alibi.
Giuffre’s legal team demands that Prince Andrew produce evidence that supports, among other things, his alibi and medical justification. On Tuesday, Queen Elizabeth II’s son’s lawyers are expected to try to convince the US court to dismiss the lawsuit. It is questionable whether the prince will participate in the process in the event of a lawsuit. Such a process could start as early as September 2022. (slo)
Headline list image: © Chris Jackson / afp
