Ghislaine Maxwell’s defence could rest its case today after 12 days of testimony.
Friday’s proceedings began with the defence asking to keep the case open through Monday to call a final 81-year-old witness, saying: “Our client’s life is on the line.”
Judge Alison Nathan said she would not approve the request because: “I have a rule, you have your next witness or you rest.”
The defence originally planned to call 35 witnesses, but it now appears only a handful will take the stand.
The defence opened its case on Thursday with testimony from Jeffrey Epstein’s executive assistant from 1996 to 200, who said that she “highly respected” Ms Maxwell and that she “looked up to her very much”.
The jury was told that Epstein was romantically involved with a wealthy Norwegian businesswoman while he was dating Ms Maxwell.
Ms Maxwell is “unlikely” to testify in her defence as she is “too fragile”, her family’s spokesman told The Telegraph. The socialite’s family and friends are concerned about how the 59-year-old would hold up in the witness box.
