Status: 03.01.2022 9:15 p.m.
In the scandal of abuse allegations against Prince Andrew, negotiations are to continue in New York about a possible trial. Now a deal by the alleged victim has been made public that could give the prince an advantage.
In the case of the abuse allegations against the British Prince Andrew, he may benefit from an out-of-court settlement from 2009, which has now been made public. Accordingly, the American Virginia Giuffre had agreed with the multimillionaire Jeffrey Epstein not to accuse anyone from his environment who could be considered a “potential accused”. The document published in New York also mentions a payment of $ 500,000 (around 330,000 euros at the time) to Virginia Roberts – her name at the time.
Giuffre claims to have been made a sex slave by the now deceased Epstein and his ex-partner Ghislaine Maxwell together with dozens of other minors. In this context, she also accuses the son of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain of abusing her 20 years ago when she was 17. She claims damages in an undisclosed amount. Prince Andrew had always denied the allegations.
Prince criticized for friendship with Epstein
Andrew’s lawyers argue that the now published settlement of 2009 prevents prosecution. Giuffres lawyers, however, had always stated that the settlement with Epstein had no relevance for a possible trial against Andrew.
The allegations against Andrew and a possible trial will continue to be heard in a civil court in New York on Tuesday. The prince has been criticized for years because of his previous friendship with Epstein and has therefore ended his royal duties.
Epstein-Freudin Maxwell last convicted
The multimillionaire convicted sex offender Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan prison cell in 2019. His girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who once introduced Prince Andrew to Epstein, was found guilty of sex trafficking in minors last week. She is said to have systematically recruited minors for abuse for Epstein.