Prince Andrew is set to go to trial next year on accusations he sexually abused a woman when she was under 18 who was also being abused by Jeffrey Epstein, a US judge has said, according to The Mirror.
US District Judge Lewis Kaplan said during a teleconference today, that he anticipated the trial on Virginia Giuffre’s civil claims would begin between September and December 2022.
This was under the provision that a jury could safely be accommodated in the Manhattan federal courthouse amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a pretrial hearing in New York, lawyers for Giuffre and Prince Andrew both said they would seek to depose between eight to 12 people to give evidence.
David Boies, for Giuffre, said there were two people in the UK he wished to speak with under oath - although did not name the individuals.
Andrew Brettler, for the Duke of York, also withheld the names of those he was seeking to depose while mentioning Giuffre was sued last week by a fellow victim of Epstein.
Artist Rina Oh has filed a defamation lawsuit against the now 38-year-old mum-of-three, asking for more than £14.5 million in damages.
Oh claimed Guiffre has repeatedly defamed and slandered her by saying she was involved in the recruitment of girls and not a victim.
The lawsuit states: “Defendant (Giuffre) knew or should have known that, at all relevant times, Plaintiff was a young victim of Epstein and not a co-conspirator of Epstein or a part of his inner circle of criminals.”
Oh cites several tweets made on Giuffre’s account including: “Ladies & Gentlemen meet Rina who now is pleading innocence since there’s a $VCF$ she has decided to come out as a victim, when on the record she was #Epstein’s GF”& was rewarded with $$ in trade for victims- real victims.
“May karma be upheld and justice be done.”
Giuffre is suing the Queen's second son for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager.
The questioning of Ms Giuffre, also known as Virginia Roberts, by police in the UK could lead to the opening of a criminal investigation with Prince Andrew having always strenuously denied the allegations.
Ms Giuffre, now 38, alleges that in March 2001, she was trafficked to London by Jeffrey Epstein and forced to have sex with Prince Andrew.
The Duke of York has said he has “no recollection” of ever meeting her and has always denied wrongdoing.
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