Prince Andrew has filed a authorized response to the sexual assault allegations made towards him as a part of a civil case in New York.
He has formally denied the claims made by Virgina Giuffre, 38, who's suing the duke for damages after claiming she was trafficked to have intercourse with the royal when she was 17.
Andrew’s authorized workforce filed the doc on Wednesday after their makes an attempt to get the case thrown out have been dismissed.
They've demanded a jury trial, going towards expectations that the duke would search to settle outdoors of court docket.
David Boies, who's representing Ms Giuffre, stated his consumer and authorized workforce have been trying ahead to ‘confronting’ the royal about his ‘denials’.
Right here we take a look at the important thing claims that have been revealed by the doc and what they imply for the case going ahead.
He denies being a detailed pal of Ghislaine Maxwell
Andrew has denied being a detailed pal of Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of intercourse trafficking at a New York court docket late final 12 months.
Maxwell, the ex-girlfriend of the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, is awaiting sentencing with many speculating she may face a long time in jail.
Within the doc, Andrew’s attorneys acknowledged he didn't throw Maxwell a party at Sandringham, which has been cited as an indication of their shut relationship.
They stated the Duke of York admits to figuring out Epstein, after assembly ‘in or round 1999’, however denies that he participated in any abuse with the convicted intercourse offender.
He additionally denied being a frequent visitor at any of the couple’s numerous properties all over the world, together with New York – the place one of many alleged intercourse assaults was stated to have taken place.
There are many issues he nonetheless doesn’t know
In his authorized submitting, the Queen’s son issued 41 denials, rejecting all allegations of wrongdoing, and stated an additional 40 occasions that he ‘lacks ample data to confess or deny’ different claims.
These embody allegations that Epstein was a registered intercourse offender when Andrew visited him in New York in 2010, that he invited Epstein to his daughter’s 18th party and that he emailed Maxwell in 2015 about Virginia Giuffre, then recognized by her maiden title of Roberts.
Andrew didn't admit or deny that a image of him with Maxwell and Miss Roberts ‘exists’ and that he and Maxwell have been pictured at many different social occasions through the years.
He nonetheless needs the case dismissed
The duke submitted 11 explanation why the case ought to be dismissed, together with that Ms Giuffre’s claims are ‘barred by the doctrine of consent’ and by ‘her personal wrongful conduct’.
The doc states: ‘Assuming, with out admitting, that Giuffre has suffered any harm or harm alleged within the grievance, Giuffre’s claims are barred by the doctrine of consent.’
Andrew’s attorneys have additionally reiterated they consider that a 2009 settlement Ms Giuffre signed with Epstein ‘waived the claims now asserted within the grievance.’
Earlier this 12 months, a decide dismissed a movement from Andrew’s facet to have the case thrown out on these grounds.
Different causes given for dismissal embody that the complainant’s claims ought to be barred by ‘unclean fingers’. This appears to allude to allegations Ms Giuffre herself was concerned in intercourse trafficking for Epstein, which she denies.
Andrew’s attorneys additionally make it clear that they consider Ms Giuffre is unable to sue within the US as she lives in Australia. She claims to nonetheless be a resident of Colorado.
He needs the case to go earlier than a jury
Within the court docket doc, which communicated his causes for requesting a dismissal of the case, Andrew’s attorneys concluded: ‘Prince Andrew hereby calls for a trial by jury on all causes of motion asserted within the grievance.’
This has been interpreted because the duke saying successfully ‘carry it on’.
However US lawyer Lisa Bloom, who represents a lot of Maxwell’s and Epstein’s accusers, stated the demand amounted to a ‘PR transfer’ as Ms Giuffre had already requested for a jury trial.
She advised the BBC Prince Andrew’s request was ‘meaningless’ because it was Ms Giuffre’s constitutional proper to have a jury trial if she requested for one.
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