Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyers seek new trial following juror interviews

Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyers are pushing for a new trial after a juror revealed he was sexually abused and convinced other jurors to convict the British socialite.

Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyers appear to have requested a new trial for the convicted sex predator after a juror revealed in a number of recent interviews that he was the victim of childhood sexual abuse.

In a redacted letter to Manhattan federal court Judge Alison Nathan, defence lawyers said the juror’s interviews were an “issue of pressing importance” because he told a reporter that sharing his history of sexual abuse helped convince the panel to convict Maxwell, the New York Post reports.

Portions of the letter are redacted, with the defence appearing to say the juror’s disclosure “presents incontrovertible grounds for a new trial”.

“Should the defence prevail on this motion – and we believe the law and facts are clearly on our side – it would render all other post-trial motions moot. Ms Maxwell should not have to expend precious time and resources briefing other motions when this motion can and should be dispositive,” they added.

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Federal prosecutors are asking Judge Alison Nathan to conduct an inquiry into a juror who goes by ‘Scotty David’ who revealed he used his past sexual abuse to sway deliberations. Picture: Reuters/Jane Rosenberg.

During jury selection, some 230 prospective jurors were given questionnaires, which included a question on whether they or anyone in their families had been the victim of sexual abuse.

The juror who spoke to the media, Scotty David, told Reuters that he “flew through” the questionnaire and cannot remember being asked about personal experiences with sexual abuse. He could only say he would have answered honestly.

Juror Scotty David, who goes by his first and middle names, revealed in an interview that sharing his story with other jurors helped persuade them to convict Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime associate. Picture: Reuters/Jane Rosenberg.

Earlier on Wednesday, the four federal prosecutors who tried the case requested Judge Nathan to conduct an inquiry and schedule a hearing about the juror’s responses in light of the interviews.

“The government believes the court should conduct an inquiry. The government proposes that the court schedule a hearing in approximately one month, along with an appropriate schedule for pre-hearing briefing regarding the applicable law and the scope of the hearing,” they wrote.

They added that if Judge Nathan does decide to hold a hearing, she should inform the juror and ask him if he would like legal counsel appointed for it.

Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted on five of six counts and is facing 65 years in prison. Picture: Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images North America/AFP

The juror, identified by his first and middle names, Scotty David, told British newspaper The Independent that he raised his past sexual abuse during jury deliberations as the panel discussed whether to convict Maxwell.

“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,” he told the newspaper. “But I can’t remember all the details, there are some things that run together.”

He added in an interview with Reuters that him sharing his experience helped convince other panellists to convict Maxwell.

“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,” he told the news agency.

Maxwell was convicted on five of six counts against her after a month-long trial in Manhattan federal court. She faces up to 65 years in prison at her sentencing.

Additional reporting by Lee Brown

This article originally appeared in the New York Post and was reproduced with permission