Britain’s Prince Andrew has requested for a U.S. jury trial as he once more denied Virginia Giuffre’s accusations that he sexually abused her greater than 20 years in the past when she was 17.
Giuffre, 38, sued the Duke of York final August, alleging he battered her whereas the late financier and convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein was trafficking her.
In a submitting with the U.S. District Court docket in Manhattan, Andrew, 61, admitted to assembly Epstein in or round 1999, however denied Giuffre’s declare that he “dedicated sexual assault and battery” upon her.
David Boies, a lawyer for Giuffre, mentioned in a press release late on Wednesday that Andrew was attempting to “blame the sufferer.”
“We look ahead to confronting Prince Andrew along with his denials and makes an attempt in charge Ms. Giuffre for her personal abuse,” Boies mentioned.
Andrew’s ties to Epstein, who killed himself in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 whereas awaiting trial on intercourse abuse fees, have undermined his popularity with the general public and standing in Britain’s Royal Household.
Earlier this month, the household eliminated Andrew’s army hyperlinks and army patronages, and mentioned the second son of Queen Elizabeth would not be often called “His Royal Highness.”
Andrew’s submitting was an “reply,” a typical doc in U.S. litigation wherein defendants deny or say they lack sufficient data to touch upon plaintiffs’ substantive accusations.
The prince’s legal professionals had beforehand known as Giuffre’s lawsuit “baseless” and accused her of in search of one other payday.
Giuffre obtained $500,000 in a 2009 civil settlement with Epstein.
U.S. District Decide Lewis Kaplan has mentioned a trial might start between September and December 2022.
If Giuffre gained at trial, Andrew might owe her damages. She has requested for an unspecified quantity.
Andrew has not been criminally charged, and no legal fees may be introduced in Giuffre’s civil lawsuit.
Kaplan this month denied Andrew’s earlier request to dismiss Giuffre’s lawsuit, which the prince mentioned he was shielded from below the 2009 Epstein settlement.
Andrew renewed that argument in Wednesday’s submitting, and in addition mentioned Giuffre lacks authorized standing to sue as a result of she lives in Australia.
(Reuters)