Ghislaine Maxwell trial delayed after lawyer becomes unwell

Ghislaine Maxwell sex trafficking trial is on hold for a day after a lawyer suddenly became unwell.

Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex trafficking trial is on hold for the day after a lawyer in the case fell ill and needed medical attention.

The trial couldn’t continue without the lawyer, who was needed to question the next witness.

Ms Maxwell, 59, is facing charges over allegedly grooming girls for abuse by Jeffrey Epstein between 1994 and 2004.

She has pleaded not guilty to eight counts of sex trafficking and perjury.

Judge Alison Nathan said she expected the delay would only last a day and there was no indication the lawyer’s illness was related to Covid.

The Ghislaine Maxwell trial has heard claims from one of her accusers they saw a photo of the British socialite “nude and pregnant” inside Jeffrey Epstein’s mansion.

The woman, who testified using only her first name, Carolyn, was asked by defence lawyers at Maxwell’s federal sex-trafficking trial in New York about statements she’d previously made to prosecutors.

“One of your memories about Ms Maxwell is you claim that you saw a photograph of her in Epstein’s house, pregnant. Correct?” lawyer Jeffrey Pagliuca asked.

“Nude and pregnant laying on the –” Carolyn began to respond — at which point Mr Pagliuca interjected, “And pregnant”.

“Yes. There was multiple pictures, nude photos,” the witness replied after a pause.

Pagliuca then approached Carolyn with a photo, who told him: “That is not the photo.”

It comes as pictures of Maxwell and Epstein relaxing in the Queen’s log cabin at Balmoral in Scotland were also shown at the trial.

The never-before-seen image shows the pair at the Queen’s beloved Scottish estate, where it has been alleged that Prince Andrew hosted the dead billionaire paedophile Epstein in 1999.

The never-before-seen images reveal the intimate relationship between the 59-year-old socialite and Epstein.

It is unclear when the photograph was taken but previously been reported they were invited there by Prince Andrew in 1999, reports The Sun.

Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein at the Queen’s Balmoral cabin. The Queen is pictured at the same spot. Picture: Southern District Court of New York/AFP

The pair are seen lounging on the porch of the Queen’s log cabin in Glen Beg, with Maxwell leaning against Epstein.

According to reports, Prince Andrew hosted Epstein’s entourage, including a model in her 20s.

The Duke of York’s relationship with Epstein has been in the spotlight in recent years, though he vehemently denies any wrongdoing.

Previously during the trial, Andrew was named yesterday as a passenger aboard Epstein’s private planes by the paedophile’s former pilot Lawrence Visoski.

Ghislaine Maxwell massages Jeffrey Epstein on his private jet. Picture: Southern District Court of New York/AFP

He was name dropped alongside Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Chris Tucker, Kevin Spacey and others.

The Duke of York has been approached for comment.

Maxwell is alleged to have “served up” girls for former lover Epstein to abuse and also allegedly participated in some of the attacks – which she denies.

Also released were creepy pictures showing Maxwell giving Epstein a foot massage.

Two of the photos released show her massaging Epstein’s feet while they are on his private plane, nicknamed the “Lolita Express”.

Ghislaine Maxwell is photographed massaging Jeffrey Epstein's feet. Picture: Southern District Court of New York/AFP

Ghislaine Maxwell is photographed massaging Jeffrey Epstein's feet in front of another man. Picture: Southern District Court of New York/AFP

Another image shows Maxwell with her arms wrapped around him in an intimate embrace.

There are also pictures of the pair with their arms around each other on holiday and her kissing him.

Maxwell’s trial has been told her and Epstein had been in a relationship but remained “the best of friends” after they split.

Unseen photos of Ghislaine Maxwell and US financier Jeffrey Epstein were shown in court. Picture: Southern District Court of New York/AFP

Prosecutors have described them as being “partners in crime” in the alleged abuse of girls.

The images were found on CDs in Epstein’s Manhattan mansion during an FBI raid in 2019 following his arrest on sex trafficking charges.

The jury has also been shown pictures of the pair kissing and her naked on the beach, which were seized by police from his Florida mansion in 2005.

A photo of Ghislaine Maxwell on Jeffrey Epstein's boat was shown during her trial in New York. Picture: Southern District Court of New York/AFP

Never before seen photos of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein were shown in court. Picture: Southern District Court of New York/AFP

The court also heard that FBI agents found a Word document, created using the name “Gmax”, which has been linked to Maxwell, that described the defendant’s intimate relationship with Epstein.

It read: “Jeffrey and Ghislaine have been together, a couple, for the last 11 years.

“They are, contrary to what many people think, rarely apart. I almost always see them together.”

It continued: “Ghislaine is highly intelligent and great company with a ready smile and an infectious laugh, will always put one at one’s ease and always makes one feel welcome.

“Jeffrey and Ghislaine share many mutual interests and they have a lot of fun together. Jeffrey and Ghislaine compliment each other really well and I can’t imagine one without the other.

“On top of being partners, they are also the best of friends.”

– with the Sun

Originally published as Ghislaine Maxwell trial delayed after lawyer becomes unwell