By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – The trial in Ghislaine Maxill’s sex abuse case is set to resume on Tuesday after hearing three weeks worth of testimony from female witnesses who claimed that the British socialite made them vulnerable for intimate encounters with Jeffrey Epstein as teenagers.

Maxwell, aged 59, was accused of grooming and recruiting four girls between 1994 and 2004, for her late friend. Maxwell pleaded not guilty in six cases of sextrafficking and other offenses.

Laura Menninger, the defense lawyer, called Maxwell “innocent” in Monday’s closing arguments. She also sought to discredit Epstein who committed suicide in Manhattan in 2019, while waiting for his trial on sexual abuse charges.

Menninger claimed that Maxwell was being made a scapegoat by the prosecutors, who were Epstein’s former girlfriend and worker.

Menninger stated, “We’re not here to defend Jeffrey Epstein.” “The government is now pivoting because Epstein is not present.”

Defence also claims that all four accusers have falsified their accounts due to their fading memories and the fact they were motivated by financial gain in order to cooperate with prosecutors. Each of the four victims received millions-dollar compensation payments from Epstein’s estate.

Assistant U.S. Lawyer Maurene Comey urged jury members to reject the defense’s closing argument and “see Maxwell” for the predator she truly is.

Comey stated, “The suggestion she didn’t know borders upon the absurd.” Comey stated that the defendant did not count on these teenage girls becoming women at the trial.

Alison Moe, the prosecutor, stated in her closing argument Monday that Maxwell was the daughter of Robert Maxwell the British media baron. She saw providing Epstein with children to abuse to sustain her luxurious lifestyle.

Maxwell can face up to 70 year imprisonment if she is convicted of six of the charges in her trial. Her perjury case will be heard separately.