Ghislaine Maxwell trial: When will the verdict be announced?

Here is what to expect as jurors weigh the six counts against the British socialite and longtime Jeffrey Epstein confidante.

British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell has been on trial in New York City since late November on sex-trafficking charges. Picture: Jane Rosenberg/ Reuters

Ghislaine Maxwell, a British socialite who is accused of conspiring with Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse underage girls, has been on trial since late last month.

Ms. Maxwell, 59 years old, has pleaded not guilty. Her lawyers have argued she is a scapegoat for Epstein, who died in his jail cell in August 2019, about a month after his indictment on sex-trafficking charges. The New York City medical examiner ruled his death a suicide.

Ms. Maxwell faces six criminal counts, one of which -- sex trafficking of minors -- carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. Jury deliberations began Monday. Here’s a look at what’s ahead.

When is the jury expected to announce their verdict?

A verdict could come as soon as Tuesday. The judge in the trial has said that would reconvene next week if they can’t reach a verdict by the end of Wednesday. On Tuesday morning, the jury asked for the transcripts of testimony of three accusers.

Why is Ms. Maxwell on trial?

Federal prosecutors in New York argued that the longtime Epstein confidante played a key role in enabling his abuse of teenage girls. During the trial, prosecutors said she recruited vulnerable girls by befriending and introducing them to Epstein.

“Maxwell was a sophisticated predator who knew exactly what she was doing,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Moe. “She ran the same playbook again and again and again.”

Prosecutors have described Maxwell as Epstein’s ‘right hand’. Picture: Handout/US District Court for the Southern District of New York/AFP.

What was her defense?

Ms. Maxwell’s lawyers argued that she was a scapegoat for Epstein, who died in jail while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. They also said that the accusers’ accounts were inconsistent and that their memories changed over time.

“The government spent a lot of time focusing you on Epstein -- on his character, on his lifestyle, on his flaws -- and they certainly proved to you that Epstein had abused his money and his power,” said defense attorney Laura Menninger. “They proved to you that he was a master manipulator. That has nothing to do with Ghislaine and everything to do with Jeffrey Epstein.”

What are the charges the jury is weighing?

Ms. Maxwell is facing six criminal counts, including enticing a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts and transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

She also faces two perjury charges, which will be the subject of a separate trial.

What happens if the jury can’t agree?

The jury must reach a unanimous verdict. If jurors can’t reach an agreement, a judge can declare a mistrial, after which the prosecution would have to decide whether to retry Ms. Maxwell. Judges typically try to avoid a hung jury and often urge jurors to continue deliberating to try to reach an agreement.

Demonstrators rally in solidarity with Epstein and Maxwell’s victims in New York earlier this month. Picture: AFP

How many years in prison could she face if convicted?

Ms. Maxwell faces a maximum of 40 years in prison on the most serious count, sex trafficking of minors. If convicted, the judge would determine her sentence.

The Wall Street Journal