By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Jury deliberations will continue Wednesday at New York’s sex abuse trial against Ghislaine Maxill. The British socialite is accused by U.S. prosecutors of grooming and recruiting underage girls to be abused by the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Below is a detailed explanation of Maxwell’s accusations and the defense she used against them.

THE MANN-ACT CHARGES

Maxwell has been charged with two counts for violating the Mann Act. It prohibits illegally transporting persons across state borders in order to engage in sexual activity.

The charges stem primarily from Jane, a witness who claimed that Epstein abused Jane when she was fourteen in 1994. Maxwell also participated in some of the sexual encounters.

Jane stated that she traveled to Epstein’s New York and New Mexico homes from her Palm Beach home. She had sexual encounters there. Maxwell assisted her with all travel arrangements. She stated that she traveled both on Epstein’s private aircraft and on commercial flight.

Maxwell faces additional charges for conspiring against the Mann Act.

SEXTRAFFICKING CHARGES

Maxwell faces two charges of sex traficking of minors and one conspiracy of sex trading. Federal law forbids Maxwell from recruiting and transporting any person under the age of 18 to take part in “commercial sexual acts.”

These accusations relate primarily to Carolyn’s testimony. She is the first named of a young woman who stated that she was only 14 when she had her first sexual encounter with Epstein in 2002. Maxwell paid her hundreds after Epstein gave her erotic massages, she testified.

Maxwell, according to her, would contact her for appointments with Epstein and sometimes would even send her a car or taxi to collect her at her home before taking her to Epstein’s.

MAXWELL’S DEFENSE

Maxwell, aged 59 years, has pleaded guilty to not all charges. Her attorneys claim that Maxwell is being treated as a victim by Epstein’s prosecutors. Epstein died in suicide in Manhattan in 2019, while Epstein was awaiting trial on sexual abuse allegations.

The women claim that Maxwell was only indicted by Maxwell as they believed cooperating with the prosecutors would aid their claims to Epstein’s victims’ compensation fund.

DO PROSECUTORS HAVE to PROVE MAXWELL KNEW EPSTEIN CONDUCT?

Laura Menninger from Maxwell defence claimed Epstein knew many things about her. She argued that the prosecution had not proved that Maxwell was aware that Epstein was engaging in sexual relations with teenager girls.

Prosecutor Maurene Comey responded to her rebuttal by saying, “Ofcourse she knew!”

However, the prosecution does not have to prove Maxwell knew of Epstein’s crimes. If she shows that Maxwell deliberately tried to conceal key facts, they can still show her knowledge, as per an instruction U.S. district Judge Alison Nathan provided jurors prior to beginning deliberations on Monday afternoon.