By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters] – Some jurors at first doubted accounts by two of Ghislaine Maxwell’s accusers during jury deliberations, according to one member of jury on Tuesday night.

The juror asked for anonymity and said that some jurors were having trouble with Jane and Carolyn witnesses, the two women who claimed Maxwell had set them up as teens with late financier Jeffrey Epstein.

According to him, after some jurors had questioned the validity of the memories of the women involved in the trial, he felt compelled to recount his childhood experience with being sexually molested as a child. While he did recall most of the details, not all of them, he said that a few key elements were still etched in his mind. He said that this influenced some jurors.

Scotty David, a Manhattan resident of 35 years, said that when he shared his story, the group was able “to sort of come to an agreement on memory aspects of sexual abuse.” He spoke to Reuters by phone. The Independent previously interviewed him.

He stated that reaching a unanimous decision was “not easy”, to be honest.

“There is a room with 12 people, and everyone has to agree on what’s happening.” he stated. Then we must agree. It took so much time because of that.

Maxwell, 60 was convicted of sexually encountering Epstein by recruiting and grooming teenage girl girls. After five days of lengthy deliberations, Maxwell was convicted.

Many prospective jurors received questionnaires during jury selection asking them, among others, whether they had ever experienced any sexual abuse. Court records indicate that hundreds of these questions were answered.

According to the record, those who responded yes were asked by the judge during the follow-up questions if this would impact their ability as impartial or fair jurors.

Scotty David claimed that he doesn’t remember being asked about the experience in follow-up questioning (known as voir dire). Scotty David said that he had “flew through” initial questionnaire, and did not remember being asked about his personal experience with sexual abuse. However, he stated that he would be honest.

Maxwell’s attorneys and the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan did not immediately respond to inquiries about Scotty David’s accounts of jury deliberations, or his answers to questions during jury choice sent on Tuesday evening after business hours.

The trial did not allow jurors to be identified individually. Scotty David provided Reuters with a picture of the instruction sheet that the court gave him, telling him to come back on Nov. 29, for the last day of jury selection. It lists the number of his juror, as well as the alternates, on the sheet.

Maxwell’s lawyers for defense argued that the memories of the women had been distorted over time and they were motivated to indict Maxwell.

Scotty David stated that Maxwell was initially convicted by several jurors who were not certain whether they would convict him on the count of sextrafficking. This is supported by testimony from Carolyn, who claimed she was just 14 at the time Epstein started abusing her.

He said that some jurors have changed their minds following hearing the story of a juror, who claimed she was poor and had grown up in poverty. Carolyn stated that she quit school when she was in seventh grade. Maxwell would pay $300 for each erotic massage she performed to Epstein. Carolyn claimed that she bought drugs with the money.

His words were, “For Carolyn it took one juror sharing their story about growing up in the exact same socioeconomic environment.” She grew up in poverty and believes that if there had been an Epstein or Ghislaine, many of her neighbors would have succumbed to their charms.

Scotty David expressed doubts about the defense’s assertion that Maxwell is being used to make Epstein look bad. Maxwell, who was awaiting his trial for sex abuse allegations in Manhattan at the time, committed suicide inside a Manhattan prison cell.

“She took part, she was complicit and did not stop it,” he stated.