Andrew's lawyers filed his response to allegations made by Virginia Giuffre this morning, after her civil suit was given the go-ahead in recent weeks, demanding a jury trial if he can't get the case dismissed altogether.
Ms Giuffre has accused Andrew of sexually assaulting her more than two decades ago. He has denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
Ms Giuffre alleged in the lawsuit that the late financier Jeffrey Epstein trafficked her and forced her to have sex with his friends, including Andrew, and that Andrew was aware she was underage in the US at the time.
She alleged Andrew sexually abused her at Epstein's private island in the US Virgin Islands, at his mansion in Manhattan and at his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell's home in London.
Andrew has denied those claims.
The UK royal did admit in the court filing that he met Epstein in 1999 through Maxwell.
Andrew also admitted that in 2000, Epstein and Maxwell attended the Prince's 40th birthday and that in 2010, Andrew was photographed with Epstein in Central Park and stayed at Epstein's New York City mansion.
Earlier this month, Judge Lewis A Kaplan rejected Andrew's attempt to win an early dismissal, allowing depositions and other evidence gathering by both parties to move forward.
Today's response was filed by Los Angeles attorneys Andrew Brettler and Melissa Lerner.
They said the lawsuit should be dismissed on several grounds, again citing Giuffre's permanent residency in Australia and a settlement over a decade earlier between Epstein and Giuffre that Andrew's lawyers contend prevents her from suing the prince.
They also argued that she consented to sexual activity and the statute of limitations has expired.
"With the Queen's approval and agreement, the Duke of York's military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to the Queen," Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
"The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen."
Patronages refer to roles in charities, military and civic groups that the royals support.
Epstein, 66, took his own life in a Manhattan federal lockup in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges.
Ms Giuffre has also leveled allegations at Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's longtime companion, but was not part of the criminal case that ended recently with Maxwell's conviction on sex trafficking charges.
With CNN, Associated Press.
More to come.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiogFodHRwczovL3d3dy45bmV3cy5jb20uYXUvd29ybGQvcHJpbmNlLWFuZHJldy12aXJnaW5pYS1naXVmZnJlLWxhd3N1aXQtcm95YWwtZGVtYW5kcy10cmlhbC1ieS1qdXJ5LWluLXVzLWRlbmllcy1hc3NhdWx0LWNsYWltcy9jM2ZmM2FlZi0zNzJhLTQ5ZjMtOGNhMC1iMThjZjQ2NmU5MWPSAQA?oc=5
2022-01-26 20:17:50Z
1242199121
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar