Royal Family News: Prince Andrew Will Have ‘Trial by Jury’ On Sexual Assault Claims

British royal family news reveals that Virginia Giuffre claims Prince Andrew sexually abused her when she was a minor, on three occasions. The case is set to be heard in a NYC courtroom this fall and today it emerged that Andrew has requested that a jury hear the case. The request was made in his official denial documents as reported by People.

On Wednesday lawyers for Queen Elizabeth’s son, “denied all allegations against him,” and demanded a, “trial by jury on all causes of action asserted in the complaint.”

Royal Family News – Prince Andrew Wants To Be Judged By His Peers

Giuffre claims to have been sex trafficked by dead convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his “pimp” sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, who is now awaiting sentencing in New York. Both are friends of Andrew and Guiffre claims they were the ones who, “forced” her to have sex with Prince Andrew when she was 17.

Andrew’s lawyers filed an 11-page document which set out a series of defenses, “without assuming the burden of proof, and expressly denying any and all wrongdoing, including arguments that the claim should be dismissed because Giuffre is a resident of Australia.” They also claimed that because she won a monetary judgment from Epstein in 2009, that she, “waived the claims now asserted in the complaint.” As one royal expert noted, basing his defense on the fact that his alleged victim had already been paid off is not the soundest of legal strategies for Andrew.

Royal Family News – Prince Andrew Wants A Jury Trial

Prior to today’s request for a jury trial, Andrew’s attorneys sought to dismiss the case claiming that Epstein reached a $500,000 settlement with Giuffre, “in which she agreed not to sue any other ‘potential defendant.’” Judge Lewis A. Kaplan heard the request and refused to dismiss the case based on Andrew’s claims.

Giuffre previously told People, “I am holding Prince Andrew accountable for what he did to me. The powerful and rich are not exempt from being held responsible for their actions. I hope that other victims will see that it is possible not to live in silence and fear, but to reclaim one’s life by speaking out and demanding justice.”

Royal Family News – Andrew Had Requested He Be Exempt From A Lawsuit

On January 13, hours after the judge refused to dismiss the case, Buckingham Palace issued this statement: “With The Queen’s approval and agreement, The Duke of York’s military affiliations and Royal patronages have been returned to The Queen.”

“The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen.”

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