Ghislaine Maxwell trial – live: Prosecution says they will rest this week as third accuser details abuse

Prosecutors in the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, a British socialite and former partner of Jeffrey Epstein, closed the seventh day of proceedings with the surprise announcement that they intend to rest their case this week, perhaps on Thursday.

Ms Maxwell, 59, is accused of grooming teenage girls for abuse by the late convicted sex offender and financier. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges against her.

The day began with jurors being shown photographs depicting Ms Maxwell’s relationship with Epstein. Judge Alison Nathan agreed that the photographs were relevant as they showed the relationship between the pair who were a couple during the 1990s and into the 2000s.

Much of the day was taken up with testimony from accuser “Carolyn”, who was allegedly paid by Ms Maxwell to massage Epstein from when she was 14 to when she was 18 at his Palm Beach residence. She said something sexual happened every time she visited the house, that she was fondled by Ms Maxwell, and she was encouraged to recruit other girls.

If Ms Maxwell is found guilty, she could face up to 35 years in jail.

Read More

Ghislaine Maxwell trial: What we’ve learned so far from inside the courtroom

How Ghislaine Maxwell met Jeffrey Epstein

Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial brought back a phrase we should never use again

Key Points

• Prosecution says they will rest their case this week

• Victim/witness Carolyn describes Epstein massages from when she was 14

• Photos of Maxwell-Epstein relationship shown to jury

• Witness was given schoolgirl outfit to wear when with Epstein

• Maxwell boasted of Epstein friendship with Trump and Prince Andrew

• Maxwell’s family ask that she receives food, soap and sanitiser in trial

• Victim calls Maxwell ‘engineer’ of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse

• What we’ve learned so far from inside the courtroom

Prosecution says they will rest their case this week

22:19 , Oliver O'Connell

In a surprise announcement at the close of day seven of the trial, the prosecution says it will rest this week, which could theoretically dramatically shorten the length of the trial.

They have decided to not call “Brian” the brother of “Jane” the first accuser to testify against Ms Maxwell.

Only one more accuser is set to take the stand against the socialite, with the court having heard from three in the first seven days of the trial. Testimony could be completed as early as Thursday.

Originally scheduled for five to six weeks, the length of proceedings could be significantly truncated.

22:07 , Oliver O'Connell

Ms Maxwell’s defence lawyer’s final question regarded a photograph Carolyn claimed to have seen of the defendant naked and pregnant. After confirming she had seen it, Mr Pagliuca ended the cross-examination.

As Ms Comey began the prosecution’s redirect, Carolyn cried when responding that no, she had not written her own legal complaint that had been referred to earlier.

The defence objected again when Carolyn was asked if she was in court to get money and responded saying that no, what Ms Maxwell did was wrong.

When Ms Comey ended her questioning of Carolyn, Mr Pagliuca asked what happened to $446,000 she had received in 2009. Carolyn replied that she did not know.

21:58 , Oliver O'Connell

Another comment from Carolyn is to be disregarded by the jury.

21:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Nathan tells the jury to disregard a comment by Carolyn, reminding her that she must follow the rules of the court.

In response to questions from Mr Pagliuca, she asked what any of this had to do with what she is here for today, adding that Ghislaine Maxwell fondled her and broke her soul.

Mr Pagliuca asked whether it is true that she never mentioned Ms Maxwell in therapy, which Carolyn confirms is the case.

21:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Mr Pagliuca asks if Carolyn moved from Florida to Georgia to detox, to which she replies, no, that it was to escape traumatic events in her life.

Asked about whether she used cocaine at Epstein’s Palm Beach house, she also replies no.

Referring to her previous testimony in litigation, in which she says she did not have sex with Epstein, she clarifies: “I replied ‘No’ because I was not a willing participant. He had sex with me and I stopped it.”

Cross-examination continues, turning to Carolyn’s drug and alcohol use

21:19 , Oliver O'Connell

As recess ends, Assistant US Attorney Maurene Comey asks how long the cross-examination will take given that it has already lasted longer than Carolyn’s testimony. She does not receive an answer.

The defence turns to Carolyn’s use of drugs and alcohol.

Mr Pagliuca asks if she recalls abusing drugs at the age of 13, to which she replies: “If you call pot drugs, yes.”

This line of questioning from defence was anticipated as a tactic to discredit Carolyn in front of the jury, hence why the prosecution brought it up during her testimony.

‘Help wanted' ad for massage therapists among files on hard drives

20:53 , Oliver O'Connell

During Tuesday morning’s testimony from FBI analyst Stephen Flatley, files and photos recovered from hard drives found in Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse were displayed, including a “help wanted” flyer for massage therapists in Palm Beach, Florida.

Jury on break as defence challenges Carolyn’s previous statements

20:34 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Nathan has called the afternoon break while assessing whether defence can pursue a line of questioning regarding a previous civil complaint and Carolyn’s version of events as told today.

Ms Maxwell’s lawyer Mr Pagliuca says he is trying to impeach the witness by omission. He argues that the previous complaint plays up the role of Epstein assistant Sarah Kellen, whereas the testimony today plays up the role of Ms Maxwell while downplaying that of Ms Kellen.

Carolyn is second accuser to allege Maxwell touched her

20:27 , Oliver O'Connell

Carolyn is the second accuser to allege that Ghislaine fondled her breasts when she was 14 years old. She too was young and vulnerable when she was brought into Epstein’s world.

Scenes from the morning’s testimony

19:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Cross-examination resumes

19:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The court is back in session and cross-examination of Carolyn by Mr Pagliuca has resumed. He asks about the notes from an interview with the FBI that occurred in August 2017.

According to the notes, Carolyn describes the woman at Epstein’s mansion as having an “unknown accent”. Carolyn denies she said this and says she actually said the woman had “an accent”.

She adds that she had not been expecting the FBI to show up at her home that day.

Never before seen photos of Epstein’s mansion shown to jury

18:44 , Oliver O'Connell

A sketch of Ghislaine Maxwell hanging in Jeffrey Epstein’s Palm Beach mansion appears in one of dozens of never-before-seen photographs submitted into evidence by prosecutors in the socialite’s trial.

The images were taken during an FBI raid on Epstein’s Florida home in 2005 and show his bedroom, offices, and a massage table where he received sexualised massages.

Bevan Hurley reports.

17:53 , Oliver O'Connell

Court breaks for lunch.

Cross-examination will resume after the recess.

Cross-examination of Carolyn

17:49 , Oliver O'Connell

Ms Maxwell’s lawyer Jeffrey Pagliuca asks Carolyn questions regarding how she came to meet the defendant and Epstein, highlighting the role that Virginia Roberts (Giuffre) played and Ms Maxwell’s absence from the initial conversation.

Carolyn knew Virginia through their boyfriends and they would all smoke marijuana together.

The defence has argued that it was Ms Roberts who introduced Carolyn to Epstein and not Ms Maxwell, though Carolyn’s testimony says that she was greeted at the house by the defendant.

17:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Carolyn says she initially stopped going to Epstein’s house for a while after having a son in March 2004 with a boyfriend.

She began visiting the house again because she needed the money but stopped when she realised that she had become “too old” aged just 18.

Carolyn says she was arrested for her drug use and for possession of stolen property when she pawned an X-Box that was not hers. After jail time she was treated for her drug use and went to therapy.

Since then she has worked at an escort service and became a stripper, sometimes having sex with men for money.

Carolyn testifies Maxwell said she had a great body for Epstein and his friends

17:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Carolyn was invited to travel overseas to Epstein’s private island but says she told Ms Maxwell that she was too young and her mother would not allow it.

She confirms that she told the defendant that she was 14 years old.

Ms Maxwell felt her breasts and said she had a great body for Epstein and his friends. She paid her $300 in $100 dollar bills.

Carolyn also says that she brought three other girls to Epstein’s house. She says that when she brought other girls she was paid $600 and they got $300. They would perform sex and oral sex.

Asked what she did with the money she made at the house, she breaks down in tears and says she was using the cash to buy drugs.

16:53 , Oliver O'Connell

Carolyn says she went back because she was young and $300 was a lot of money.

Ms Maxwell had asked her for her phone number to set up repeat visits.

She testifies that she would usually see Ms Maxwell in the kitchen when she got to the house.

“She would just let me know that Mr Epstein would be back, that he was on a jog.”

Carolyn says she told Ms Maxwell that her mother was an alcoholic and that she had been raped and molested by her grandfather from the age of 4.

Carolyn describes Epstein massages from when she was 14

16:41 , Oliver O'Connell

Ms Maxwell greeted her when she came to the house in Palm Beach.

Carolyn recalls not being able to pronounce Ms Maxwell’s first name and called her “Maxwell”. She recalls her shoulder-length black hair and English accent.

She testifies that Ms Maxwell took off her clothes and Carolyn left on her bra and underwear.

Virginia Roberts (Giuffre) was also there whom Carolyn had met through a boyfriend called Sean.

After 45 minutes of massaging Epstein’s back, Carolyn says that he turned over and Virginia began having sex with him.

They were both paid, with Carolyn receiving $300.

She says she went to Epstein’s house more than 100 times, up to three times a week, between the ages of 14 and 18 years old.

New witness: Carolyn

16:35 , Oliver O'Connell

The trial has resumed with a new witness who rather than using a pseudonym, will only be referred to by her first name — Carolyn.

She explains that she dropped out of school after the seventh grade and was introduced to Estein to give him massages as she needed to make some money. She was 14 at the time.

FBI found diamonds, cash, passports, CDs and hard drives after cracking open Epstein safe

15:59 , Oliver O'Connell

Photos taken during an FBI raid on Jeffrey Epstein’s eight-story townhouse on Manhattan’s Upper East Side in 2019 have been released for the first time.

Among the images shown to the jury in Ghislaine Maxwell’s underage sex-trafficking trial was one showing a safe found in a fifth-floor dressing room that was sawed open by the FBI and contained hard drives, CDs, diamonds, a large amount of US currency, and passports belonging to Epstein.

Bevan Hurley reports.

Photos from 2019 FBI raid on Epstein’s Upper East Side mansion released

15:57 , Oliver O'Connell

Mr Flatley’s testimony has ended after a short cross-examination.

The court is now in its mid-morning recess.

15:49 , Oliver O'Connell

Mr Flatley is reading from a file created by GMax on 14 October 2002.

“Jeffrey and Ghislaine have been together, a couple, for the last 11 years. They are, contrary to what many people think, rarely apart — I almost always see them together.”

“Ghislaine is highly intelligent and great company with a ready smile and an infectious laugh who always puts one at ones [sic] ease.”

The purpose of the file is unclear.

New witness: Stephen Flatley, FBI

15:29 , Oliver O'Connell

The next witness is Stephen Flatley, an FBI computer analysis response team coordinator, digital forensic examiner, and Quantico instructor.

He is shown a computer hard drive and identifies it as one he examined as part of the Epstein case.

Asked what the registered organisation is for the hard drive, he replies “GMax”.

Mr Flatley reads out an email from a Mindpsring domain address with the username GMax1 — Ghislaine Maxwell. It consists of a list of complaints about a lack of pens and water in a black Mercedes Benz and a filthy pool deck. She also notes that the massage creams in Epstein’s bathroom were a mess.

At one point she asks what list is John using — an apparent reference to housekeeper Juan Alessi whom she called John and had given a 58-page housekeeping manual.

“I need to what if any list John is using and he needs to understand he is doing a truly awful job.”

The email is dated 25 May 2001.

15:06 , Oliver O'Connell

In cross-examination, the witness confirms that she does not know if any of the images were altered. In one set there were more than 20,000 photos.

Ms Meder’s testimony has now concluded.

14:57 , Oliver O'Connell

Among the photos shown to the jury are a number of the couple embracing and one in which Ms Maxwell appears to be massaging Epstein’s foot.

In testimony on Monday, “Kate’s” first contact with Epstein involved her massaging his feet.

Trial resumes with photos of Maxwell and Epstein

14:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The jury is back in the courtroom and questioning of the FBI analyst who ended yesterday’s proceedings continues.

Kimberly Meder testified on Monday about the CDs found at the house containing a trove of images and said these included pictures of Epstein and Maxwell together.

She is now identifying multiple photographs of the sex offender financier and socialite together.

Jury expected to see photos of Maxwell-Epstein relationship

14:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Jurors are expected to see photographs depicting Ms Maxwell’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein Tuesday, Reuters reports.

The pictures were discovered when FBI agents seized compact disks from Epstein’s Manhattan home in July 2019.

The cache of digital photographs includes images of two women who have accused Maxwell of serving them up to Epstein as teenagers in various states of undress, Reuters said.

Judge Allison Nathan agreed that the photographs were relevant and admitted one of a woman not included in the indictment as evidence.

She said she would consider whether to admit the other, which is of a woman who testified earlier on Monday under the pseudonym Kate.

Maxwell‘s defence attorney, Laura Menninger, who said some of the photographs could have been altered, argued that prosecutors should have shown the photograph while Kate was on the stand to give her the opportunity to authenticate it.

Maxwell lawyers want to exclude ‘Jane’s’ brother’s testimony

14:33 , Oliver O'Connell

Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyers are arguing for the exclusion of testimony by the brother of “Jane” the first accuser to testify against the disgraced socialite.

“Brian”, like his sister also using a pseudonym, is being called by prosecutors to back up her testimony, however, the defence team claims that “Jane” contacted him after testifying.

Defence lawyer Laura Menninger said that “Jane” told “Brian” that Maxwell’s lawyer was an “expletive that rhymes with ‘front’.”

Judge Alison Nathan is concerned that some coaching of the witness may have taken place, though the persecution says that “Brian” informed the government about his conversation with “Jane” and insists she did not go into detail.

Defence wants to know exactly what was communicated to him by “Jane” before he takes the stand. Judge Nathan says that he shouldn’t testify until after lunch.

Inside Epstein’s New York townhouse

14:22 , Oliver O'Connell

ICYMI: British woman testifies about grooming by Ghislaine Maxwell

14:05 , Ella Glover

On Monday, the court heard from one of Ms Maxwell’s accusers who testified under the pseudonym ‘Kate’.

She testified that Ghislaine Maxwell pressured her into giving Jeffrey Epstein sexual massages when she was still a teenager and, on one occasion, gave her a schoolgirl’s outfit to wear for Epstein.

Here’s the full story:

British woman testifies about grooming by Ghislaine Maxwell

ICYMI: Epstein ‘wired more than 30 million dollars to Maxwell over eight years’

13:50 , Ella Glover

Yesterday, the court heard that Ms Maxwell received more than 30 million US dollars (£22.6 million) from Jeffrey Epstein over a period of eight years.

Josh Payne has the full story:

Epstein ‘wired more than 30 million dollars to Maxwell over eight years’

What are the charges against Ghislaine Maxwell

13:25 , Ella Glover

As we wait for the seventh day of Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial in New York, let’s recap the charges put against her.

Maxwell faces six charges relating to allegations from a 10-year period between 1994 and 2004:

• Conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts

• Enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts

• Conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity

• Transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity

• Sex trafficking conspiracy

• Sex trafficking of a minor

She is also charged with two counts of perjury.

Here’s an explainer on the charges:

What are the charges in the Ghislaine Maxwell sex abuse trial?

Voices: Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial brought back a phrase we should never use again

12:57 , Ella Glover

The Ghislaine Maxwell trial has revived a meaningless term that needs to be abolished: ‘underage girls,’” writes Margot Mifflin.

“By definition, girls are children, and children are underage. The phrase implies that some ‘girls’ are old enough to have sex with adults who aren’t criminals.

“Call them children, teens, teenage girls, or minors, and call the crime committed against them what it is: sexual abuse. Not ‘sex with an underage girl.’”

Read more:

Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial brought back a phrase we should never use again

The Ghislaine Maxwell trial in pictures

12:08 , Ella Glover

Here are some more drawings from the Ghislaine Maxwell trial.

Artist responds after image of Ghislaine Maxwell sketching her back goes viral

11:50 , Ella Glover

Following our previous post (06.54 GMT), the courtroom artist responsible for the viral sketch of Ghislaine Maxwell drawing her back during the trial has responded.

Speaking to the Intelligencer, Jane Rosenberg said: “In the pre-trials in that little courtroom, that’s when the sketching started. She sketched me a few times in a row.”

Ms Rosenberg also revealed that “she (Maxwell) started nodding at me and waving at me. She even spoke to me once. It’s really great for me. I’m not going to wreck it. I’m going to keep it going. I need to see her face. It’s like a photographer — they wait for that moment and say someone’s name and they turn to them. That’s the same thing.”

She added that the drawing is a few weeks old and that it isn’t the first time someone has sketched her back in the courtroom.

In her 35-year-long career Ms Rosenberg has drawn Mark David Chapman, El Chapo, Bill Cosby, Harvey Weinstein, and Anthony Weiner.

My colleague Maroosha Muzaffar has the story:

Artist responds after image of Ghislaine Maxwell sketching her back goes viral

Photographs depicting Maxwell’s relationship with Epstein on Tuesday

11:32 , Ella Glover

Jurors are expected to see photographs depicting Ms Maxwell’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein Tuesday, Reuters reports.

The pictures were discovered when FBI agents seized compact disks from Epstein’s Manhattan home in July 2019.

The cache of digital photographs include images of two women who have accused Maxwell of serving them up to Epstein as teenagers in various states of undress, Reuters said.

Judge Allison Nathan agreed that the photographs were relevant and admitted one of a woman not included in the indictment as evidence.

She said she would consider whether to admit the other, which is of a woman who testified earlier on Monday under the pseudonym Kate.

Maxwell‘s defence attorney, Laura Menninger, who said some of the photographs could have been altered, argued that prosecutors should have shown the photograph while Kate was on the stand to give her the opportunity to authenticate it.

Everything we know about Little St James, Epstein’s private island

11:13 , Ella Glover

Accusers say billionaire’s private paradise of Little St James in US Virgin Islands was centre of international sex trafficking ring, here’s everything we know:

Epstein’s island: What really happened there?

Everything we know about Epstein’s private jet

10:21 , Ella Glover

Prince Andrew isn’t the only high profile figure said to have flown on Jeffrey Epstein’s private jet, which has come to be known as the “Lolita Express”.

Former US presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton as well as actors Chris Tucker and Kevin Spacey are also said to have flown with Epstein, according to former pilot Larry Visoski.

One of the pilot’s duties was to fly Epstein’s Boeing 727 that became known among the press as the “Lolita Express” for its role in ferrying young women between New York and Epstein’s primary residence in Palm Beach, Florida, where many of his alleged acts of sexual abuse are said to have taken place.

Here’s everything we know about Epstein's private planes:

What was Jeffrey Epstein’s ‘Lolita Express’?

What has been said of Prince Andrew in the trial?

10:06 , Ella Glover

Jeffrey Epstein’s former pilot Larry Visoski told the court he remembered Prince Andrew flying on Epstein’s planes.

Under cross-examination from defence counsel Christian Everdell, Mr Visoski was asked “Are you familiar with Prince Andrew, the Duke of York? He is the second son of the Queen. Did he ever fly on Epstein’s planes?”

“Yes, he did,” Mr Visoski replied.

The witness told jurors he could not recall the dates the duke flew.

He also recalled meeting Virginia Giuffre, who has filed a sexual assault lawsuit against Prince Andrew, in the 1990s.

He described her as a shorter woman with dirty blonde hair who “didn’t look young”.

Duke of York dragged into Ghislaine Maxwell sex-trafficking trial

How did Ghislaine Maxwell meet Epstein?

09:36 , Ella Glover

Ghislaine Maxwell has been called a “really important part of the grooming process” who “worked as a team” with Jeffrey Epstein by a witness.

But have you every wondered how the pair met?

My colleague Graeme Massie has the story:

How Ghislaine Maxwell met Jeffrey Epstein

Maxwell’s brother speaks outside courthouse

09:06 , Ella Glover

Speaking outside of the courthouse, Ms Maxwell’s brother said he and has family has asked attorney general AG Merrick Garland to intervene and improve Ms Maxwell’s conditions at trial.

He called for the shackles the British socialite is made to wear travelling to and from the courthouse to be removed, stating that they are causing pain and bruising.

“In 2021, what an earth are they doing shackling a 59-year-old-women...when she represents absolutely no threat to the community,” he said.

Secondly, he said they asked for her to receive nutritious food such as a fruit parcel every day.

“She gets a boiled egg and she’s lucky if it isn’t mouldy,” he told reporters, placing the responsibility on the attorney general.

Finally, he asked that she be allowed to meet with her attorneys for at least 30 minutes before and after each day’s proceedings.

Sketch of Maxwell drawing the courtroom artist goes viral

06:54 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

A sketch of Ghislaine Maxwell drawing the court artist who keeps pictorial records of the proceedings has gone viral on social media.

The sketch by artist Jane Rosenberg shows Ms Maxwell staring straight at her and doodling on a notepad.

The artist told Newsweek that Ms Maxwell had interacted with her multiple times during the trial. She was also smiling and waving at the artist on the day the courtroom sketch was drawn.

Ms Rosenberg told New York Magazine’s Intelligencer that Ms Maxwell started sketching during the pretrials.

“Then she started nodding at me and waving at me. It’s really great for me. I’m not going to wreck it. I’m going to keep it going,” the artist added.

FBI found CDs filled with nude photos of women inside Epstein's house

05:52 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) found a plethora of photos of nuder women and underaged girls at Jeffrey Epstein’s New York townhouse in July 2019.

The agents found diamonds, passports, hard drives and CDs that contained photographs with police-like yellow “evidence” tape on them, Fox News reported, citing FBI testimony in court.

In another closet, the FBI found “numerous black binders” with white labels that had “clear pages containing thumbnail photos with CDs attached”, Special Agent Kelly Maguire told the court.

The search was conducted a few days before Epstein’s arrest on sex trafficking charges.

Maxwell said Epstein needed to have sex three times a day, accuser testifies

05:06 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

The second accuser, who testified under the pseudonym "Kate", told the court that Jeffrey Epstein "needed to have sex about three times a day".

Kate testified she first met Ghislaine Maxwell when she was 17 through her older boyfriend, during their trip to Paris.

The woman, now 44-year-old, said Ms Maxwell told her to dress up in a schoolgirl’s outfit before giving Epstein a sexualised massage at his Palm Beach mansion.

When the court asked if Ms Maxwell mentioned how often Epstein needed to have sex, Kate answered: "She said he needed to have sex about three times a day".

She told the court that she did not tell anyone about her experiences because she knew how “well connected” they were.

Who are the key courtroom figures?

04:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Who are the key courtroom figures in the Ghislaine Maxwell trial?

Epstein wired over $30 mn to Maxwell over eight years

03:57 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Ghislaine Maxwell received over $30 mn (£22.6 mn) from disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein over a period of eight years.

Documents presented to the Federal court showed $7.4 mn of the money received by Ms Maxwell was spent on a green helicopter.

Transactions on JP Morgan bank statements from either Epstein’s accounts or his company accounts showed $30.7 mn was transferred to Ms Maxwell between 1999 and 2007.

Second accuser says she gave Epstein massages while dressed as schoolgirl

03:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Ghislaine Maxwell told a young woman to dress up in a schoolgirl’s outfit before giving Jeffrey Epstein a sexualised massage at his Palm Beach mansion, a court in New York heard on Monday.

The now 44-year-old British woman told the court she had first given sexual massages to Epstein at the age of 17 at Ms Maxwell’s townhome in Belgravia, London.

Bevan Hurley reports from the court in Lower Manahttan.

Woman says she gave Epstein sexualised massages while wearing schoolgirl’s outfit

ICYMI: Housekeeper drove accuser ‘Jane’ to Epstein’s Palm Beach mansion aged 14

02:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Jeffrey Epstein’s former housekeeper testified that the first accuser in Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex trafficking trial was a frequent visitor to his Palm Beach mansion when she was 14 years old.

Bevan Hurley reports.

Epstein housekeeper says he drove accuser ‘Jane’ to Epstein’s Palm Beach mansion

Key points from week one of the trial

01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Week one of Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial saw emotional testimony from the first of her accusers as well as a detailed look behind closed doors at the life she and Jeffrey Epstein led in Palm Beach.

Scenes from Week 1 of Ghislaine Maxwell's sex-abuse trial

Voices: Why Maxwell’s trial feel familiar

00:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Clémence Michallon explains why Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial feels disturbingly familiar.

Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial feels disturbingly familiar | Clémence Michallon

‘It was not a secret, it was a mandate,’ house manager says of removing Maxwell pictures

Monday 6 December 2021 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Last week saw extensive testimony by Epstein’s former housekeeper in Palm Beach, who gave the court insight into the disgraced sex financer’s life and Ms Maxwell’s place in it.

Bevan Hurley reports.

Epstein had Maxwell photos removed from Palm Beach when entertaining female guests

‘Never disclose Mr Epstein or Ms Maxwell’s activities or whereabouts to anyone'

Monday 6 December 2021 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The former housekeeper of Jeffrey Epstein testified on the fourth day of his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex trafficking trial that his staff had to follow a number of “degrading” rules enforced by the British socialite.

Juan Alessi worked for the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender at his mansion in Palm Beach, Florida between 1990 and 2002. Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on further sex crimes charges.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Epstein’s former housekeeper shares list of ‘rules’ for staff enforced by Maxwell

Court adjourns for the day

Monday 6 December 2021 22:04 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Alison Nathan has adjourned the court for the day following a short bit of testimony from FBI analyst Kimberly Meder.

She testified about the CDs discovered in Epstein’s safe at the townhouse in 2019.

One image found on one of the CDs showed Ms Maxwell and Epstein together, she said.

Monday 6 December 2021 21:35 , Oliver O'Connell

The raid on the house was carried out in early July 2019 and according to reports at the time, a trove of lewd photographs of children was found in a safe at the property.

Court papers said that alongside photos were compact discs with handwritten labels including: “‘Young [Name] + [Name],’ ‘Misc nudes 1,’ and ‘Girl pics nude.”

Epstein’s New York townhouse

Monday 6 December 2021 21:22 , Oliver O'Connell

New witness: FBI Special Agent Kelly Maguire

Monday 6 December 2021 21:19 , Oliver O'Connell

Agent McGuire begins her testimony by identifying the front view of Epstein’s Upper East Side townhouse in Manhattan. Ms McGuire was part of the raid on the home in July 2019 when Epstein was arrested for sex trafficking.

When agents and NYPD arrived at the townhouse there was no answer at the front door and so officers forced their way in.

The court is shown photos of the third-floor massage room. Pictures on the walls have been redacted in the public exhibit.

Court sketch: Witness ‘Kate’ testifies

Monday 6 December 2021 21:12 , Oliver O'Connell