The lawyers of Prince Andrew (61) do everything possible to avert the civil suit of the alleged abuse victim Virginia Giuffre (38) once morest the British Royal.
But the legal maneuvers are unlikely to be crowned with success. The noose is tightening for the son of Queen Elisabeth II (95)!
Giuffre claims to have been forced to have sex with Andrew three times in 2001 at the age of 17 by the later convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein († 66). In the affair, the prince’s lawyers had relied on the previously secret agreement between the multi-millionaire and his victim. The 38-year-old had promised in 2009 that she would not sue Epstein or “other potential accused” for sexual assault in exchange for a hush money of $ 500,000.
Foto: SHANNON STAPLETON/REUTERS
“data-zoom-src =” https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/klaegerin-virginia-giuffre-mit-ihrem-star-anwalt-david-boies-5dd872a306c3445ab6276f178b0067b8-78727684/Bild/1.bild.jpg ” /> Plaintiff Virginia Giuffre with her star attorney David BoiesFoto: SHANNON STAPLETON/REUTERS
Federal judge Lewis Kaplan (77) seems to interpret the earlier contract very differently: For him it looks like this, he said at the hour-long hearing on Tuesday in Manhattan, that only the contracting parties Epstein and Giuffre are allowed to assert this passage – but not “third Parties “- like Prince Andrew.
What’s in store for the Royal in New York? BILD asked US legal experts.
► Top-Jurist Paul Kamenar: “It will now be difficult for him to stop this process here in the USA. It really doesn’t look good for Prince Andrew! ”Kamenar expects the process to be long, up to two years. The expert believes that Andrew might be compelled to give evidence. His prognosis: “I expect that there might ultimately be a comparison! Both sides would agree on a compensation amount and exclude any questions of guilt in order to get the matter over with … “And: The newly convicted, former Epstein partner Ghislaine Maxwell (60) posed a further threat to Andrew:” She might incriminate him as a witness in order to reduce her sentence, ”adds Kamenar.
Foto: picture alliance / Captital Pict
“data-zoom-src =” https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/die-freunde-des-prinzen-der-multi-millionaer-und-verendungte-sexualstraftaeter-jeffrey-epstein-66-5fe2c5c0f7d647c28ef27ea6c9c5d868-78727686/ Image / 1.bild.jpg “/> The “friends” of the prince: the multi-millionaire and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein († 66) and his newly convicted ex-partner Ghislaine Maxwell (60). Epstein is said to have given the then 17-year-old to Prince Andrew as a sex toyFoto: picture alliance / Captital Pict
►Eddie Hayes, 74, New York celebrity attorney: “He is threatened with a damning verdict here in New York, that can easily run into the millions!” And further: “If I were his lawyer, I would advise him to reach a settlement as soon as possible, he might say I’m paying to save myself the embarrassment, to protect my family. ”Giuffre’s lawyers might make him“ look devastating, ”said Hayes. Andrew had already “made himself completely ridiculous” at the big BBC interview in 2019.
Everything would have been so easy for the prince!
According to the “New York Post”, the Duke of York might have saved himself the whole judicial thriller and embarrassment if he had asked his victim for forgiveness. Virginia Giuffre is said to have said that among friends, as the newspaper claims to have found out.
It is now too late for a “sorry” …
