NEW YORK (Reuters) – It has been two years since Jeffrey Epstein hanged himself in a Manhattan jail cell, however the publicity surrounding the deceased financier will make it robust to search out an unbiased jury for former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell’s upcoming intercourse abuse trial, based on authorized specialists.
Potential jurors on Thursday will start filling out a 24-page questionnaire in federal courtroom in Manhattan to evaluate whether or not they can pretty decide Maxwell, a British socialite who U.S. prosecutors say recruited and groomed underage women for Epstein to abuse.
Epstein, a well-connected cash supervisor who as soon as counted Britain’s Prince Andrew and billionaire Leon Black amongst his associates, died by suicide in a Manhattan jail in 2019 following his arrest on intercourse trafficking expenses.
Maxwell’s legal professionals have mentioned “intense unfavourable media protection” of Maxwell and Epstein, together with podcasts and documentaries on Netflix and different platforms, have tainted the jury pool for her trial, which is anticipated to start out on Nov. 29.
“Epstein goes to be such an enormous determine on this trial, and there are such a lot of preconceived notions about Epstein, that it is going to be troublesome for the protection to get individuals who can are available in as a clean slate,” mentioned Roy Futterman, a director at trial consulting agency DOAR in New York.
Prosecutors say that Maxwell, 59, recruited and groomed 4 underage women for Epstein to abuse from 1994 to 2004.
Maxwell, who has pleaded not responsible to the costs, is the highest-profile girl to be tried on sexual abuse expenses because the begin of the #MeToo motion.
Her legal professionals have mentioned this has fueled the “vitriolic” protection about Maxwell since her July 2020 arrest.
“The truth that a girl now stands trial for expenses nearly completely alleged in opposition to males heightens the curiosity and intrigue of this case,” they wrote in a courtroom submitting.
The questionnaire that round 600 potential jurors will full asks what they’ve learn or heard about Epstein and Maxwell, and about their very own experiences with sexual abuse or assault.
Some people will probably be known as again starting Nov. 16 for particular person follow-up questioning by U.S. District Decide Alison Nathan, who’s presiding over the trial.
Jury consultants mentioned that ought to make potential jurors extra comfy discussing delicate private subjects, and assist legal professionals weed out individuals who have preconceived notions about Maxwell’s guilt. When the method is full, there will probably be a jury of 12 plus six alternates.
SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
Whereas many potential jurors will probably be aware of the case, those that realized about it from information sources somewhat than leisure choices is likely to be seen as much less biased, mentioned Christina Marinakis, director for jury analysis at Litigation Insights in Baltimore.
The questionnaire asks whether or not potential jurors have mentioned the case on social media. Marinakis mentioned each the prosecution and the protection will probably overview their on-line posts to make sure.
For the protection, one problem is that jurors aware of Epstein might maintain Maxwell to a better customary as a result of she is a girl, and since lots of Epstein’s alleged victims have been underage, mentioned Melissa Gomez, president of MMG Jury Consulting in Philadelphia. Jurors with a unfavourable view of Epstein might imagine Maxwell had a particular obligation to guard women from him.
“It isn’t solely going to be whether or not she actively participated, however, as a girl, did she fail to guard these different ladies?” Gomez mentioned.
The protection may search to seat males who view Maxwell’s accusers as keen members in sexual exercise with Epstein, somewhat than as victims, mentioned Paul Applebaum, a felony protection lawyer in St. Paul, Minnesota.
“You need males on the jury who’re nonetheless cavemen,” he mentioned.
(Reporting by Luc Cohen; Enhancing by Noeleen Walder and Jonathan Oatis)
