For Ghislaine Maxwell, the moment of truth has arrived.
After twelve days of fighting, sometimes very tough, between prosecutors and the defense of the ex-companion of Jeffrey Epstein, the two parties announced to judge Alison Nathan that they were done.
This Monday, December 20, in a final attempt to convince the twelve jurors, prosecutors and defense lawyers will present their arguments for Ghislaine Maxwell and against her.
On Tuesday, the jury is expected to retire to deliberate after receiving the judge's instructions.
What could we remember from these twelve days? Since the opening of the trial, on November 29, in the Manhattan court, we have been wondering if Ghislaine Maxwell would agree to testify and therefore submit to questions from the prosecutor, a decision always risky in a criminal trial. The suspense ended on Friday when Judge Alison Nathan asked Ghislaine Maxwell if she wanted to speak. "The government has not provided evidence beyond doubt, so there is no reason for me to speak," said the most famous inmate in the United States, referring to the law that imposes, for to condemn, that the proofs of guilt have been produced without there being the possibility of any doubt.
To read also »
" I was petrified of fear ": behind the scenes of the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell
In video, "Ghislaine Maxwell in the shadow of Epstein", the trailer
The six-week trial is expected to close in a few hours.
The prosecution has had four young women testify anonymously who claim to have been victims of Jeffrey Epstein and to have been recruited by Ghislaine Maxwell.
The defense only took two days to present their case.
She was unable to prevent the presentation of photos of the couple that looked like they came from a family album, seized during the FBI raid on Epstein's Manhattan mansion, along with hundreds of other young women. and adolescent girls, more or less undressed. Laura Menninger, one of Maxwell's attorneys, tried to convince the judge not to allow the footage to be shown. Indeed, these photos look like banal photos of a couple in intimate moments of everyday life while the defense has strived to demonstrate that Ghislaine Maxwell was herself the victim of a manipulator. One of the prosecutors, Alison Moe, explained that on the contrary, these images prove that Maxwell was more than a common employee of Epstein. One of the photos, presented to the jury, but not made public, showed the two lovers swimming naked.
To listen: the editorial podcast
But, above all, the trial revealed the incredible cruelty of the couple, and in particular of this woman, who behaved like the butler of all the residences of Epstein, against all those who were in their service.
One of the first days of the trial, an FBI agent read an annoying note from Ghislaine Maxwell: "John must understand that he is doing a terrible job," listing six reasons why she said Juan Alessi, one of the employees, was not working according to his criteria.
His crime: there was not enough mineral water or pens in the "Merc" - Mercedes - and the "massage creams in the bathroom are a mess".
To put all the staff in line, Ghislaine Maxwell had organized a seminar on Epstein's ranch in New Mexico. The instructions were meticulous. For example, toothpaste and shaving foam always had to be half full, Kleenex boxes had to be replaced when they were two-thirds empty, razor blades had to be changed after each use; shaving cream, lip balm, moisturizer had to be Kiehl's; sunscreen by Peter Thomas Roth and hairbrushes by Mason Pearson. At the bottom of the list of instructions was a space for the employee to sign, confirming their understanding of the rules of the House of Epstein-Maxwell. Juan Alessi, the head waiter, reminded the jury that the rule was that he should "not see anything,to hear nothing, not to say anything except to answer a question which (to them) is directly asked ”.
For three weeks, jurors have seen and heard a lot, but have remained silent so far.
In a few hours, they will have the floor and "Lady Ghislaine" will be fixed on her fate.
The editorial team advises you
Angels and the devil: the dark links between Jeffrey Epstein and Victoria's Secret
Julie K. Brown, the woman who brought down Epstein
"Money-hungry young sex bomb": Prince Andrew's lawyers attack accuser
