9 of the best events happening this bank holiday weekend
9 of the best events happening this bank holiday weekend

Sarah Gill

IMAGE Active: Connect, Move & Thrive with Aoibhinn Raleigh & Vilte Jankunaite
IMAGE Active: Connect, Move & Thrive with Aoibhinn Raleigh & Vilte Jankunaite

IMAGE

This Sandymount home is full of rich colour and clever storage solutions
This Sandymount home is full of rich colour and clever storage solutions

Megan Burns

Some of Ireland’s best autumnal forest walks to try over the mid-term
Some of Ireland’s best autumnal forest walks to try over the mid-term

Sarah Finnan

Page Turners: ‘The Bookseller’s Gift’ author Felicity Hayes-McCoy
Page Turners: ‘The Bookseller’s Gift’ author Felicity Hayes-McCoy

Sarah Gill

4 AW outfit combinations to wear with loafers
4 AW outfit combinations to wear with loafers

Sarah Finnan

Television chef, cookbook author and Fused founder Fiona Uyema on her life in food
Television chef, cookbook author and Fused founder Fiona Uyema on her life in food

Sarah Gill

Six supplements that will help you on your journey through menopause
Six supplements that will help you on your journey through menopause

IMAGE

This cosy family home in Wicklow is on the market for €475,000
This cosy family home in Wicklow is on the market for €475,000

Sarah Finnan

How I mastered the fine art of self-care, with wellness curator Peigín Crowley
How I mastered the fine art of self-care, with wellness curator Peigín Crowley

IMAGE

Image / Culture

Ghislaine Maxwell: ‘There is no need for me to testify’


By Amanda Cassidy
18th Dec 2021
Ghislaine Maxwell: ‘There is no need for me to testify’

Ghislaine Maxwell has rested her defence after just two days after calling the prosecutions arguments against her “unproven”. The 59-year-old has also declined to testify in the sex-trafficking case.

The socialite denies grooming underage girls for abuse by the late Jeffrey Epstein.

In a surprise move, (the case was mooted to last six weeks) the former associate of financier Epstein, today spoke directly to the judge. Pulling her mask down to speak, Ms Maxwell said; “The government has not proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt and so there is no need for me to testify”.

The Briton faces up to 80 years in prison if convicted on charges of sex trafficking and perjury.

Denies charges

Maxwell has pleaded not guilty to six federal charges, including sex trafficking of minors, enticing a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and three counts of conspiracy.

Prosecutors have attempted to paint a picture of Ms Maxwell as a predator who coaxed young girls into providing massages with Mr Epstein that later turned sexual.

Over two weeks of testimony, they called 24 witnesses, including four accusers.

Closing arguments are expected on Monday. It’s expected that the Judge in the case will instruct the jury the same day giving them two days to deliberate before court closes for Christmas.

The jury can return to continue deliberating the following week if they have not reached a verdict

Infinite loop

Meanwhile thousands have taken to social media to discuss a courtroom artist’s sketch of Ghislaine Maxwell sketching back at her.

Jane Rosenberg is a professional courtroom artist who has covered four decades of notorious trials. She told The Guardian that she doesn’t know why Ghislaine Maxwell has been drawing her back.

“And I’m not going to try to read her mind. Maybe she was just bored coming out of her jail cell. I know her sister sometimes also sketches in court. Maybe the Maxwell family just likes to sketch in their free time.”

“I thought this was funny at first but it’s starting to haunt me,” one person wrote on Twitter. There’s speculation over the reasons behind the move.

“Is Maxwell trolling us? Or sending the artist an ominous message?” wondered another.

But for now, it doesn’t seem to perturb Rosenberg.  Maxwell even waves to her sometimes, she admitted to The Guardian. Once she mouthed something, and Rosenberg realised she was saying: “Long day, isn’t it?”

Image via Getty Images