Ghislaine Maxwell Prosecutors Scramble to Avoid Traumatic Trial for Perjury

Ghislaine Maxwell prosecutors say a second trial would be traumatic for victims as they offer to drop perjury charges against her.

The British socialite was found guilty of sex trafficking for Jeffrey Epstein in December but has a separate case hanging over her relating to claims she lied under oath in a civil lawsuit.

The Government has offered to drop the separate charges to save the victims from having to testify again, if her conviction for sex trafficking stands.

However, Maxwell wants the guilty verdict for grooming girls for Epstein to abuse to be thrown out and a new trial ordered after comments from a juror.

Scotty David told journalists he was a sexual abuse victim himself, raising questions about whether he disclosed the fact in his jury questionnaire.

The Government's latest letter to the court is significant because it highlights the cost to victims not only in the event of a separate trial for perjury but also a retrial of the original sex trafficking case.

A court filing reads: "In the event the defendant's post-trial motions are denied, the Government is prepared to dismiss the severed perjury counts at the time of sentencing, in light of the victims' significant interests in bringing closure to this matter and avoiding the trauma of testifying again."

Maxwell's post-trial motions called for a retrial and the court has scheduled a briefing from her lawyers for January 19.

The Government also called for a sentencing date to be set in three to four months time, suggesting the defense motion for a retrial will be resolved by then, whichever way it goes.

A court filing read: "The Government believes that the Court should order preparation of the Presentence Investigation Report ("PSR") and schedule a sentencing proceeding approximately three to four months from today's date.

"That schedule permits sufficient time for the preparation of the PSR and resolution of post-trial motions."

Scotty David told The Independent: "I know what happened when I was sexually abused. I remember the colour of the carpet, the walls. Some of it can be replayed like a video.

"But I can't remember all the details, there are some things that run together."

Quoted by Reuters, he added: "When I shared that, they were able to sort of come around on, they were able to come around on the memory aspect of the sexual abuse."

Since then, The New York Times reported a second juror was also a sexual abuse victim and described their experiences in the jury room.