Did you know that after being convicted on charges related to sex trafficking, Ghislane
Maxwell's defense team is now arguing that their client deserves a new trial?
Why?
Keep watching to find out.
In January 2022, news broke about the juror in the Ghislaine Maxwell case who may have
failed to disclose his own experiences with sexual abuse.
If true, this failure to disclose could have devastating effects for the legal case against
Maxwell.
When the jury began deliberations in Maxwell's trial, some initially doubted some of Maxwell's
accusers, per Reuters.
But one juror, Scotty David, spoke up and shared his own experiences with sexual abuse,
including how trauma can distort memory.
David told The Independent that when fellow jurors started questioning why victims had
waited so long to come forward, he told them how long it took him to come forward about
his own abuse.
David said:
"We cannot judge what they did or didn't do afterward.
It doesn't change that it happened."
Of the jury selection process, the Jury Handbook for the Southern District of New York states:
"Questions are then asked to find out whether any individuals on the panel have any personal
interest in the case or know of any reason why they cannot render an impartial verdict."
Since David's personal experiences were what reportedly helped sway his fellow jurors towards
a guilty verdict, whether or not Maxwell did receive a fair trial is being called into
question, Oxygen reported.
Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted in December 2021 on charges related to sex trafficking.
"The road to justice has been far too long, but today justice has been done."
It is alleged that she helped Jeffrey Epstein to, quote, "recruit and groom" girls for high
profile figures, allegedly including the likes of Prince Andrew, Oxygen reported.
However, now her attorneys are claiming that Scotty David, also known as "Juror 50," may
have swayed the guilty verdict and have requested a new trial.
In the wake of the revelations surrounding juror David, a letter showed that prosecutors
have reached out to the presiding judge, Judge Alison Nathan, asking for an inquiry into
the matter.
The letter in question reads:
"While the court instructed jurors that they were free to discuss their jury service with
anyone of their choosing, some of the statements, as related in the media, merit attention by
the court."
According to Reuters, part of an initial juror questionnaire during the jury selection process
asked if potential jurors or their family members had previously experienced sexual
abuse.
However, David admits that he, quote, "flew through" the initial questionnaire, and also
didn't recall being asked on the form about personal experiences with sexual abuse, claiming
he would have answered honestly.
Whether or not Scotty David is telling the truth about how he answered questions during
the jury selection questionnaire is the subject of Ghislaine Maxwell's attorney's latest move.
Their motion for a new trial also came with a request that the motion remain sealed until
Judge Alison Nathan rules on their motion — or until a hearing can be held.
This move arrives in response to David hiring his own lawyer and filing a request for the
answers he provided.
Maxwell's attorney's new main objective is to stop David and defense attorneys from seeing
what David answered on his initial juror questionnaire.
In a court filing obtained by The Guardian, the attorneys argued that having access to
the questionnaire answers would lead to a new tangle, saying:
"[The questionnaire would provide] a roadmap of the defense's examination of Juror 50 and
will allow him to plan out or tailor his responses."
The court filing also claims that there is enough evidence already to show that Maxwell
is entitled to a new trial.
Meanwhile, David told Reuters that he does not accept the defense's argument that Maxwell
was being used as a scapegoat for the late Jeffrey Epstein's crimes, who died while awaiting
trial on sex abuse charges.
He said:
"She participated, she was complicit, she did nothing to stop it."
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available.
Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline
at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).