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Ghislaine Maxwell guilty of helping Jeffrey Epstein abuse girls

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Daily US Times: Ghislaine Maxwell has been found guilty of recruiting and trafficking young girls to be sexually abused by the late American financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The 60-year-old was found guilty on five of the six counts she faced – including the most serious charge, that of sex trafficking a minor.

The verdict was reached after five full days of deliberation by a 12-person jury in New York.

It means the British socialite could spend the rest of her life behind bars.

The verdict followed a month-long trial that featured testimony from four women who described being abused by Epstein between 1994 and 2004.

Maxwell showed no visible sign of emotion as the verdict was read out on Wednesday, only pouring herself a glass of water which she sipped from twice.

Shortly after the verdict, her legal team said they were working on an appeal. “We firmly believe in Ghislaine’s innocence,” her lawyer, Bobbi Sternheim, told reporters.

Annie Farmer, one of the women who testified against Maxwell, said: “I am so relieved and grateful that the jury recognised [her] pattern of predatory behaviour.”

“I hope that this verdict brings solace to all who need it and demonstrates that no one is above the law,” she said.

Maxwell was found guilty of:

  • sex trafficking of a minor, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years
  • transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years
  • conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, which carries a maximum sentence of five years
  • conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, which carries a maximum sentence of five years
  • conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors, which also carries a maximum sentence of five years

She was found not guilty of one count – enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts.

US Attorney Damian Williams welcomed the verdict and commended the “bravery” of the victims who came forward.

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