Prince Andrew, accuser search witnesses in intercourse abuse lawsuit | Information

Attorneys for each side file their preliminary requests for witnesses as a part of the civil case filed in the USA.

Attorneys for Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre have filed their preliminary requests for witnesses in her lawsuit accusing the British royal of sexually abusing her at age 17.

Not too long ago launched paperwork present that the prince’s authorized staff is searching for witness accounts from her husband, Robert Giuffre, and her psychologist, Judith Lightfoot, as a part of the civil case filed in the USA.

In the meantime, Giuffre’s attorneys are searching for witness accounts from the prince’s former assistant and a lady who claims to have seen him at a London nightclub along with her in the course of the time in query.

The lawsuit cleared a hurdle after a choose earlier this week refused Andrew’s request to have it dismissed.

Giuffre sued Andrew, 61, in August, saying she was coerced into sexual encounters with him in 2001 by financier Jeffrey Epstein and his longtime companion, Ghislaine Maxwell. Giuffre mentioned she was sexually abused by Andrew at Maxwell’s London dwelling, at Epstein’s New York mansion and at Epstein’s property within the US Virgin Islands.

The prince has strenuously denied Giuffre’s allegations, telling the BBC in 2019 that intercourse with Giuffre “didn’t occur” and that he had “no recollection” of assembly her.

Not too long ago launched paperwork present that Andrew’s attorneys argue Giuffre “could endure from false recollections”, and say she must be questioned concerning the “principle of false recollections” together with different issues mentioned throughout her periods with Giuffre and any prescriptions she wrote for her.

Andrew’s attorneys need Robert Giuffre to be questioned concerning the circumstances beneath which the couple met round 2002 and their family funds. They need the testimony from the 2, who’re each Australian residents, by April 29 or as quickly as potential after that.

Giuffre’s attorneys, in the meantime, have filed comparable requests for Andrew’s aspect. They need testimony from his former assistant Robert Olney, whose identify they are saying appeared in Epstein’s cellphone ebook beneath “Duke of York”, which they are saying signifies he knew about Andrew’s journey to Epstein’s properties.

Her attorneys are additionally searching for testimony from Shukri Walker, who they are saying has been quoted in information studies speaking about how she noticed Andrew on the London nightclub Tramp in the course of the interval in query with a younger lady who might need been Giuffre.