Ghislaine Maxwell accused of touching 16-year-old's breasts during massage

Prosecutors have completed presenting their case against Ghislaine Maxwell, after a key accuser at the British socialite's sex-abuse trial testified she and Jeffrey Epstein forced themselves on her in 1996.

In this courtroom sketch, Annie Farmer, far right, testifies on the witness stand during the Ghislaine Maxwell sex abuse trial, December 10, 2021

In this courtroom sketch, Annie Farmer, far right, testifies on the witness stand during the Ghislaine Maxwell sex abuse trial, December 10, 2021 Source: FR142054 AP

This story contains references to sexual abuse.

Another key accuser at the sex-abuse trial of Ghislaine Maxwell has testified that she and Jeffrey Epstein forced themselves on her during a 1996 visit to the financier's sprawling New Mexico ranch when she was 16.

Annie Farmer told jurors she accepted an invitation to the ranch hoping that Ms Maxwell and Epstein wanted to help her with academic endeavours.

Instead, she said, Ms Maxwell ended up fondling her breasts and Epstein climbed into bed without her permission.

Ms Farmer recalled the unwanted physical contact making her feel like she "just wanted the weekend to be over... I wanted to be done with it".

She added: "All these experiences made me feel like they had a very different interest in me."

Asked by a prosecutor at the start of her testimony if she saw anyone in the courtroom who had ever given her a massage, Ms Farmer identified Ms Maxwell, who was sitting at the defence table.

Ms Farmer, now 42, took the stand using her true identity - a departure from the decision by three other accusers with similar stories who testified under pseudonyms or first names only to protect their privacy.
The three others claimed Ms Maxwell recruited them to give Epstein massages meant as a ruse for sexually abusing teens.

Two said they were just 14 when the abuse started and that Ms Maxwell sometimes participated in the encounters.

Ms Maxwell, 59, has denied charges she groomed underage girls for Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.

Her lawyers say the government is making her a scapegoat for alleged sex crimes committed by her one-time boyfriend.

Ms Farmer testified on Friday that she met Epstein at age 16 on a 1996 trip to New York City to visit her older sister, who was working for him at his Manhattan mansion.

When they visited him at the home, he "seemed very friendly and down to earth," and even offered to mentor her, she said.

She said an outing to the movies with Epstein, he reached over to hold her hand and caress her leg.

"I felt sick to my stomach," she said. "It was not something I wasn't expecting at all."
When Ms Farmer returned home, she stayed in touch with the billionaire and accepted an invitation to travel New Mexico with plane ticket he paid for even though, she said, "after what happened in the movie theatre, I didn't want to be alone with him".

She said initially felt more comfortable because Ms Maxwell was there.

But when they took her to the movies, he "right away began to hold my hand" and rub her foot and arm throughout the film, she said.

Once home, Ms Maxwell insisted on giving Ms Farmer a massage and told her to take off her clothes, Ms Farmer testified.

Ms Maxwell "pulled down the sheet and exposed my breasts and starting rubbing on my breasts," Ms Farmer said.

"It didn't make sense to me that would happen," she said.

"I so badly wanted to get off the table and have the massage be done."
The next morning, she said, Epstein came into her bedroom and told her he wanted to cuddle.

After he climbed into bed, she froze, thinking: "I just have to get through this."

He pressed his body against her, she said.

She finally made up an excuse to go to the bathroom: "I wanted to be in there long enough that this situation would be over," she said.

Ms Farmer's testimony caps the trial's second week.

Prosecutors have completed presenting their case against Ms Maxwell.

The judge has suggested that closing arguments - originally thought to span six weeks - might occur as soon as 20 December if the defence presentation next week only lasts a day or two.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual abuse, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit Bravehearts can also be contacted on 1800 272 831 and Blue Knot on 1300 657 380.

In an emergency, call 000.


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4 min read
Published 11 December 2021 8:21am
Updated 11 December 2021 8:41am
Source: AAP, SBS


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