Keys to understanding the case of Ghislaine Maxwell 3:23
London (CNN) -
Prince Andrew was barely mentioned in passing at the British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell's sex trafficking trial in New York.
But the fact that jurors found her guilty of five of the six counts related to her role in Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse of underage women cannot be good news for UK royalty.
Andrés faces a civil lawsuit filed by Virginia Roberts Giuffre in which he maintains that he was a victim of human trafficking by Jeffrey Epstein and forced to have sex with his friends, including the prince, and that Andrés He was aware that he was a minor (17 years old) in the United States.
Prince Andrew flatly denies the allegations.
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Oral arguments in that case are set for January 4, where lawyers for the 61-year-old prince are expected to argue in favor of dismissing the lawsuit.
If his lawyers are unsuccessful, or the case is not resolved, the prince could face trial between September and December 2022. The lengthy indictments that Andres faces have already drastically tarnished his public position, which is why he stepped aside. of actual functions at the end of 2019.
American judges also ruled that a confidential 2009 agreement between Epstein and Giuffre, which could also have referenced Prince Andrew, should be made public next week.
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Maxwell chose not to testify at his own trial, saying "there was no need" as the prosecution "had not proven their case beyond a reasonable doubt."
Therefore, she was not questioned about her friendship with Prince Andrew.
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However, there is no guarantee that he will not take the stand in a long-awaited appeal of his conviction, or if the civil case against the prince goes to court.
You could also choose to cooperate with authorities, giving out any potentially incriminating information you may have about other people, in an attempt to reduce your sentence, legal experts said.
"Maxwell may now have more to say on the whole issue after his conviction," Nick Goldstone, head of dispute resolution at the international law firm Ince, told CNN, although those discussions may "take some time to develop," he added.
"If Maxwell has incriminating information and evidence regarding Prince Andrew, or indeed anyone else who has engaged in illicit conduct in association with Jeffrey Epstein, then I think the prince and anyone else may have a lot to fear from a sentencing negotiation process, "Goldstone said in an email.
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"On the other hand, if Prince Andrew has done nothing wrong, he should have nothing to fear from Maxwell's sentencing negotiation."
Professor Felicity Gerry, a UK lawyer and international law expert, told CNN that Maxwell's appeal testimony was "unlikely as this would likely involve an examination of the trial evidence, similar to Cardinal Pell's trial in Australia".
However, Gerry said, Andrew may have cause for concern if there is a negotiation of the sentence in the Maxwell case.
"Sentencing negotiation can occur if she decides to give or has given information," Gerry said.
"This could implicate many people, including Prince Andrew. He certainly has nothing to lose now that he faces an important sentence."
Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell are seen at Royal Ascot in the UK on June 22, 2000. Credit: Shutterstock (10491003e)
Defendants have the greatest advantage in cooperating before being convicted, and that's how they get favorable plea deals, said CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin.
"But it is possible, in some circumstances, to cooperate after conviction, although (Maxwell) will have much less influence now," he said.
"I suspect that you will want to do everything you can to reduce your sentence and cooperation is the only option now. Of course, it all depends on what information you have."
Prince Andrew could go to trial in sexual abuse case next year, judge says
The government would be interested, of course, if she had any incriminating information about Prince Andrew, Toobin said, but there is no reason to suppose she does, he added, and Andrew has denied any improper conduct.
"Now that she has been convicted, she is a less valuable witness to the prosecution because she can more easily be discredited as someone who is simply trying to reduce her sentence," Toobin said.
Ghislaine Maxwell Prince Andrew