Ghislaine Maxwell: prosecutors say it’s time for her to be held accountable for sex trafficking of minors

US prosecutors on Monday urged the jury to convict Ghislaine Maxwell for sex trafficking of minors in the final arguments of the trial in New York against the British millionaire, whom they described as “a sophisticated predator who knew exactly what she was doing.”

The daughter of former British press mogul Robert Maxwell, faces a sentence equivalent to life in prison of being found guilty of six counts of recruiting and grooming minors to be abused by the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, her longtime partner.

“It is time to hold her accountable”said prosecutor Alison Moe, after nearly three weeks of testimony at this high-profile trial in Manhattan.

Epstein committed suicide two years ago, when he was 66 years old and in custody awaiting trial for sex crimes.

Moe said that MaxwellThe 59-year-old was “the key” to Epstein’s scheme to find young girls to give him massages, during which he abused them.

“They were accomplices”, The prosecutor told the jury of 12 people, while recalling the testimonies of the four accusers.

Two said they were 14 when Maxwell allegedly caught them to give Epstein massages, instances that ended in sexual activities.

One, identified only as “Jane,” detailed how Maxwell recruited her from summer camp and made her feel “special.” Said sexual encounters with Epstein became common, with Maxwell present at times.

Another alleged victim, Annie Farmer, now 42, said Maxwell fondled her breasts as a teenager on an Epstein ranch in New Mexico.

The defense must present its final arguments after a lunch break.

Then Judge Alison Nathan will instruct the jurors on how to consider the charges and this will go back to deliberation.

The defense has argued that Maxwell is being used as a “scapegoat” after the death of Epstein and it has also called into question the ability of women to remember events from more than 20 years ago.

The trial was expected to last until January, but now it is possible that Maxwell Know where you will be before Christmas Day, when you turn 60.

If the jury does not reach a verdict by Wednesday, then they will resume deliberations next Monday.

The charges date from 1994 to 2004 and Maxwell pleaded not guilty to all of them. She could be sentenced to up to 80 years in prison.

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