UK’s Prince Andrew seeks jury trial, denies allegations of sexually abusing teenager

Britain’s Prince Andrew on Wednesday requested for a US jury trial as he once more denied Virginia Giuffre’s accusations that he sexually abused her greater than twenty years in the past when she was 17.

Giuffre, 38, sued the Duke of York final August, alleging he battered her whereas the late financier and convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein was trafficking her.In a submitting with the US District Court in Manhattan, Andrew, 61, admitted to assembly Epstein in or round 1999, however denied Giuffre’s declare that he “committed sexual assault and battery” upon her.David Boies, a lawyer for Giuffre, stated in an announcement that Andrew was attempting to “blame the victim.””We look forward to confronting Prince Andrew with his denials and attempts to blame Ms. Giuffre for her own abuse,” Boies stated.READ | Sexual abuse case towards Prince Andrew can transfer forward to trial, US choose guidelinesAndrew’s ties to Epstein, who killed himself in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 whereas awaiting trial on intercourse abuse fees, have undermined his popularity with the general public and standing in Britain’s Royal Family.Earlier this month, the household eliminated Andrew’s army hyperlinks and army patronages, and stated the second son of Queen Elizabeth would now not be often called “His Royal Highness.”Andrew’s submitting was an “answer,” a typical doc in US litigation through which defendants deny or say they lack sufficient data to touch upon plaintiffs’ substantive accusations.The prince’s legal professionals had beforehand known as Giuffre’s lawsuit “baseless” and accused her of looking for one other payday.Giuffre acquired $500,000 in a 2009 civil settlement with Epstein.US District Judge Lewis Kaplan has stated a trial may start between September and December 2022.If Giuffre gained at trial, Andrew may owe her damages. She has requested for an unspecified quantity.READ | ‘I want her effectively’: Trump feedback on arrest of Jeffrey Epstein aide Ghislaine MaxwellAndrew has not been criminally charged, and no legal fees could be introduced in Giuffre’s civil lawsuit.Kaplan this month denied Andrew’s earlier request to dismiss Giuffre’s lawsuit, which the prince stated he was shielded from beneath the 2009 Epstein settlement.Andrew renewed that argument in Wednesday’s submitting, and in addition stated Giuffre lacks authorized standing to sue as a result of she lives in Australia.