Prince Andrew asks for jury trial as he formally denies Virginia Giuffre’s sex assault claims | UK News

Prince Andrew has asked for a jury demo and denied the allegations versus him as he officially responded to Virginia Giuffre’s sexual assault lawsuit.

Courtroom documents submitted in New York show he “requires a demo by jury on all brings about of action asserted in the criticism”.

Ms Giuffre accuses the Duke of York of forcing her to have sex extra than two many years in the past at the London dwelling of Ghislaine Maxwell.

The duke, 61, is getting sued by Ms Giuffre, 38, formerly recognised as Virginia Roberts, in a US civil case.

He has always strongly denied the allegations versus him.

Ms Giuffre promises “sexual assault and battery” by the duke and currently being trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein to have sex with Andrew when she was 17.

The alleged offences are said to have took place amongst 2000 and 2002 at Maxwell’s residence, Epstein’s New York mansion and his non-public island.

In Wednesday’s doc, Andrew’s legal professionals formally set out his response to many statements and mentioned he denied Ms Giuffre’s sexual assault allegations.

The document also sets out 12 defences.

These include that the situation must be dismissed because Ms Giuffre is a resident of Australia due to the fact way too much time has handed mainly because of “her very own wrongful perform” and for the reason that she gave up her rights soon after signing an agreement with Epstein.

The doc also tries to undermine Clause 38 of Ms Giuffre’s lawsuit, in which she points to a photograph of Prince Andrew and Ms Giuffre as a teen, together with Ghislaine Maxwell, as proof that he realized her.

Clause 38 suggests: “The under photograph depicts Prince Andrew, Plaintiff, and Maxwell at Maxwell’s household prior to Prince Andrew sexually abusing Plaintiff.”

In response Andrew’s legal professionals mentioned: “Prince Andrew lacks ample info to confess or deny the allegations contained in paragraph thirty-eight of the Criticism.”

A trial day is pencilled in for involving September and December this calendar year.

Earlier this thirty day period, Prince Andrew unsuccessful to use that 2009 offer to get the situation thrown out.

His legal professionals experienced argued Ms Giuffre waived her ideal to sue when she signed a $500,000 settlement.

It incorporated an agreement to “release, acquit, satisfy, and without end discharge” Epstein and “any other individual or entity who could have been provided as a probable defendant”.

However, the judge turned down the duke’s bid and dominated the circumstance could continue.

‘Demands a trial by jury’

Buckingham Palace responded by eliminating the duke’s military titles and patronages and claimed he would fight the case as a personal unique.

The new court docket doc concludes: “Prince Andrew hereby calls for a demo by jury on all triggers of action asserted in the Grievance.”

The duke’s submitting was an “respond to”, a document popular in US situations in which defendants deny an accusation or say they deficiency ample facts to comment.

‘Continues to blame the victim’

Ms Giuffre’s law firm claimed they were seeking ahead to “confronting” the prince about his “denials”.

David Boies mentioned: “Prince Andrew’s Remedy proceeds his approach of denying any expertise or information concerning the promises from him, and purporting to blame the target of the abuse for somehow bringing it on herself.

“We look forward to confronting Prince Andrew with his denials and tries to blame Ms Giuffre for her individual abuse at his deposition and at trial.”

Jeffrey Epstein was discovered lifeless in his mobile in 2019, while Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted in December of recruiting underage women to be abused by the financier.

She is searching for a retrial immediately after 1 jury member discovered they had been sexually abused.