Jeffrey Epstein accuser urges Prince Andrew to 'come clean'

A woman who accused Jeffrey Epstein of sex abuse and alleged she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew as a 17-year-old has urged him to "come clean".

Speaking after a hearing for alleged victims in the wake of Epstein's death, Virginia Giuffre told reporters the prince "knows what he's done".

The Duke of York has previously denied these claims.

A coroner ruled Epstein killed himself this month while awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges.

The 66-year-old tycoon - who once counted President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew as friends - was found unresponsive in his prison cell on August 10.

About 15 plaintiffs were given an opportunity to speak at the New York City court hearing that brings an end to the criminal case - which is now closed because of Epstein's death.

The women spoke of their anger, saying Epstein had cheated justice by taking his own life.

Prosecutors said the investigation was ongoing and charges could still be brought against any co-conspirators.

SEX SLAVE

Ms Giuffre, 35, has alleged she was forced on three occasions to have sex with Prince Andrew, which he denies.

She has accused Epstein of keeping her as a "sex slave". In court on Tuesday, she said: "My hopes were quickly dashed and my dreams were stolen."

Ms Giuffre has said in a court deposition she was a 15-year-old working at Mr Trump's Mar-a-Lago golf resort in Florida when she was approached by British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell to give massages to Epstein.

When asked for a comment on Prince Andrew during a news conference after the hearing, Ms Giuffre said: "He knows what he's done and he can attest to that. He knows exactly what he's done and I hope he comes clean about it."

The prince has said it was "a mistake and an error" to see Epstein after his release from prison, and that he never saw or suspected criminal behaviour.

OTHER ACCUSERS

Courtney Wild, who has alleged Epstein sexually abused her when she was 14, told the court on Tuesday: "I feel very angry and sad. Justice has never been served in this case."

Ms Wild, who says she was recruited to be a masseuse for Epstein on his private plane dubbed "the Lolita Express", called him a "coward" who was able to "manipulate our justice system".

Jennifer Araoz, who says Epstein raped her at his New York mansion when she was 15, told the court: "He robbed me of my dreams, of my chance to pursue a career I adored.

"The fact I will never have a chance to face my predator in court eats away at me. They let this man kill himself and kill the chance for justice for so many others."

Another woman, Chauntae Davies, told the court: "I will not let him win in death."

Ms Davies said she was raped by Epstein on his private island after being hired to give him massages.

Another woman, who chose to withhold her name, fought back tears as she told the court: "We do need to know how he died. It felt like a whole new trauma. It didn't feel good to wake up that morning and find that he allegedly committed suicide."

A number of accusers have filed lawsuits against Epstein's estate. Two days before his death, he signed a will funnelling his $577m (Sh57.7 billion) in assets to a trust fund.

EPSTEIN'S DEATH

Judge Richard Berman, who scheduled the hearing, began on Tuesday by observing that the case had taken "a rather stunning turn of events".

Reid Weingarten, an attorney for Epstein, asked the judge to look into the circumstances of his client's death.

The financier died of "suicide by hanging" in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, according to a New York medical examiner.

Mr Weingarten said the defence was "sceptical of the certitude of the medical examiner's conclusion that this was suicide", citing issues with video surveillance.

Brad Edwards, a lawyer representing Epstein's accusers, told the court that the financier's "untimely death" was "curious" and made it impossible for the alleged victims to find justice.

Authorities have told the Washington Post that one hallway camera near Epstein's prison cell has unusable footage, though clearer footage was captured in the vicinity.

It is unclear what was visible in this footage, or why the other video was not usable.

The FBI and Department of Justice are investigating the incident to determine if there was any foul play.

CHARGES

Epstein was accused of paying girls under the age of 18 to perform sex acts at his Manhattan and Florida mansions between 2002-05.

He was also alleged to have paid large amounts of money to two potential witnesses ahead of his trial, which was scheduled for next year.

Epstein, who pleaded not guilty, was facing up to 45 years in prison if convicted.

He was arrested on July 6 after landing in New Jersey on his private jet.

Epstein avoided similar charges in a controversial secret plea deal in 2008, instead pleading guilty to a lesser charge.

Handling of that case - which deprived Epstein's accusers the chance to confront him in court - has been closely scrutinised in recent months.

In July, US Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, a former Miami prosecutor, resigned over his role in the plea deal.