New York: The defense of Ghislaine Maxwell began his case in the trial of British social sex abuse on Thursday, called the former assistant to the deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein as his first witness.
Since the trial began on November 29, the jury had heard the testimony of four women who said Maxwell prepared them between 1994 and 2004 for violating Epstein.
Epstein died of suicide in 2019 in Manhattan prison cell while waiting for a trial of alleged sex harassment.
Cimberly Espinosa, 55, testified that he was hired as a legal assistant for Epstein’s company in 1996.
He said he later changed the role to work as the Maxwell executive assistant from November 1996 to 2002.
“He together every day,” said.
Under the question by Maxwell Prosecutor Christian Everdell, espinosa testified that he worked with several other women who were receptionists or executive assistants for Epstein and Maxwell.
Espinosa said Maxwell was a demanding boss but he learned a lot from him.
“I really respect Ghislaine,” said Espinosa.
“I really looked at him.” Maxwell, 59, has begged innocent for eight allegations of sex trade and other crimes.
His lawyers argue that he was curbed for the alleged financial behavior because he was dead.
In its case, what is expected to last two to four days, Maxwell’s lawyer is likely to continue to try to destroy the credibility of the accurate by asserting that women’s memories have faded for years and they are motivated by money to involve Maxwell.
The prosecution rested his case on Friday.