and abused by the prince. a jury in new york has found the british socialite ghislaine maxwell guilty of having helped the late financier, jeffrey epstein, sexually abuse teenage girls. the jurors found the sixty— year— old guilty of another four charges connected with procuring the victims and facilitating the abuse. she was found not guilty on one other charge. the defence team is expected to appeal against the verdict. the convictions mean maxwell faces the possibility of spending the rest of her life in prison. i'm joined now by our correspondent nomia iqbal, who's outside the courthouse in manhattan. just talk us through what happened in court. the just talk us through what happened in court. , ., , in court. the “ury had been deliberating — in court. thejury had been deliberating for _ in court. thejury had been deliberating for nearly - in court. thejury had been deliberating for nearly six. in court. the jury had been i deliberating for nearly six full days on the fate of ghislaine maxwell. they returned earlier today delivering their verdicts. six counts, as you mentioned there. not guilty on count two. want to be but the account was. enticing a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, and that's in reference to one of the four women whose testimonies made at the heart of the prosecution's case, someone called jane, not her real name, but she was found guilty on all the other counts, including the most serious counts, including the most serious counts, which is to do with the sex trafficking of minors, that's a0 years injail. it's 65 trafficking of minors, that's a0 years in jail. it's 65 years that coueen years in jail. it's 65 years that colleen maxwell is facing issues in order to survive i sentences consecutively. ijust order to survive i sentences consecutively. i just want to remind you what the jury had to decide here. had to decide whether ghislaine maxwell and jeffrey epstein or whether she was a scapegoat to his crimes. and the defence had argued that she was being punished for what he did. he killed himself in a jail cell here in new york two years ago whilst awaiting his own sex trafficking trial. the defence said that the government had gone after her because they couldn't go after him. it was the prosecution argument that way regardless what happened to jeffrey epstein two years ago, ghislaine maxwell was independently responsible for the crimes that she carried out. they said she wasn't an innocent bystander, notjust an employee that came in and out of jeffrey epstein�*s life, that she was constantly present, and this is reflected in the testimony of the four women who took to the stand. they talked about the relationship they had built with ghislaine maxwell, that she was someone who was charming, educated, part of the upper edges of society. she was age appropriate, and they felt comfortable with her. their hair, they would go on to set up these massages which were sexual in nature, and they were then forced to perform the sex acts, many of them getting caught up in a cycle of abuse for many, many years. ghislaine maxwell did speak in court last weekend that was to confirm that she would not take to the stand to defend herself. she had said that she did not that the government had proven the charges against her without reasonable doubt. the jury rejected that argument. they believe the prosecution did prove their case and certainly in the five of those counts that ghislaine maxwell knowingly did what she did. as i say, she does now face the rest of her life behind bars. she turned 60 on christmas day. ijust want to let you know that we are expecting to hear potentially from her family. we are also expecting to hear from the defence, just want to quickly let you know the statement from the us attorney, damien williams, remember, this is a big win for the us government. ghislaine maxwell has been under suspicion for more than a decade. they have said that they welcome the verdict and have commended the bravery of the victims who came forward. they said that the courage and their willingness made this case and today's results possible. this case and today's results ossible. ., ~ this case and today's results possible-— this case and today's results ossible. ., ~ , ., ., ., possible. 0k, thank you for that, we will cross straight _ possible. 0k, thank you for that, we will cross straight back _ possible. 0k, thank you for that, we will cross straight back there - possible. 0k, thank you for that, we will cross straight back there live - will cross straight back there live to new york if we get any develop meats outside of the court. but for the moment, thank you. well with the background to the case and what led to this verdict — the bbc�*s aleem maqbool has this report. ghislaine maxwell will now finally pay for her terrible crimes. her victims were robbed ofjustice for decades, but four of them have helped put a now infamous sexual predator behind bars. each was from a troubled or cash—strapped home, and the court heard how ghislaine maxwell gained their trust. during their explicit and emotional testimony, they told the jury how she instructed them to get the late jeffrey epstein massages that turned sexual. all but one, annie farmer, testified anonymously, using a psuedoname or just their first name. jane said maxwell participated in her sexual encounter with epstein... kate said after sexual contact with epstein, maxwell asked her if she had fun, saying she... carolyn said maxwell told her she had a great body for epstein and his friends before touching her breasts. and annie farmer, the only victim who publicly identified herself said ghislaine maxwell gave her unsolicited massage and rubbed her breasts. she said... legal experts said the defence's attack on the women's memories and motives didn't help ghislaine maxwell overcome the compelling evidence. she had the disadvantage of having to try to explain away this parade of young girls who were coming in and out of the home daily, and she claimed she knew none of that, that it never happened, and that's very, very difficult for thejurors to credit, and when the jurors concluded that ghislaine maxwell was a liar, they concluded that she was a predator. police raids of epstein�*s comes homes showed the duos jet setting luxurious lifestyle. in this photo, the pair are see relaxing at the queen's balmoral residence, when prince andrew reportedly invited the couple to the estate. the staggering wealth on display from opulent properties in florida, new york, new mexico and even epstein�*s own private island, nicknamed "little saintjeff", only highlighted how they used their power together over the years to lure, intimidate and silence everyone around them. house rules, including this manual, told staff to be "deaf, dumb and blind", forbiding them from making eye contact with epstein. i think this guilty verdict is immensley meaningful for sexual abuse victims everywhere, no matter who you are, no matter what kind of circles you travelled in, no matter how much money you have, how many years have passed since the sexual abuse, justice is still possible. ghislaine maxwell will be sentenced at a later date, and she still faces a second trial for perjury, a charge which she denies. aleem maqbool, bbc news, new york. spencer kuvin is an attorney who represented three victims in thejeffrey epstein sex crime case in 2008. thank you for having me. it is a huge, huge pleasure to be here talking about this guilty verdict on behalf of my clients. what talking about this guilty verdict on behalf of my clients.— behalf of my clients. what is your reaction and _ behalf of my clients. what is your reaction and indeed _ behalf of my clients. what is your reaction and indeed what - behalf of my clients. what is your reaction and indeed what do - behalf of my clients. what is your reaction and indeed what do you | reaction and indeed what do you think their reaction will be? well. think their reaction will be? well, i know this _ think their reaction will be? well, i know this is _ think their reaction will be? well, i know this is a _ think their reaction will be? well, i know this is a victory _ think their reaction will be? well, i know this is a victory not - think their reaction will be? well, i know this is a victory notjust - i know this is a victory notjust for the victims that testified, this should be seen as a victory for all victims of ghislaine maxwell and jeffrey epstein, and a victory as you have heard before on behalf of all of these victims, men, women, boys, girls, everywhere that were afraid to come out and speak their truth. and now they know that if they do, that people will listen injustice can be served. i they do, that people will listen injustice can be served. i wanted to ask you about _ injustice can be served. i wanted to ask you about that, _ injustice can be served. i wanted to ask you about that, the _ injustice can be served. i wanted to ask you about that, the wider - ask you about that, the wider context here. you dojanuary and dashed genuinely think it's that significant that it will have ramifications beyond this case. i absolutely do. i know my clients are looking forward to a similar verdict with respect to jeffrey epstein looking forward to a similar verdict with respect tojeffrey epstein as well, and it was an absolute tragedy that the us attorneys office and the government allowed him to die in jail here in the states, so to be able to see justice be done with respect to ghislaine maxwell should not only be a victory for these women, but also for victims around the world to know that the justice system will hold these people accountable regardless of their wealth or power throughout the world. ~ . , ., wealth or power throughout the world. ~ . y., ., ~ wealth or power throughout the world. ~ . ., ~ ., world. what did you make of maxwell's — world. what did you make of maxwell's defence, - world. what did you make of maxwell's defence, part - world. what did you make of maxwell's defence, part of l world. what did you make of. maxwell's defence, part of the world. what did you make of- maxwell's defence, part of the case that she was essentially being used as a scapegoat here for epstein's crimes, because of course he is not dead well, i can take a bad.- dead well, i can take a bad. well, i can ta -e dead well, i can take a bad. well, i can tape victims — dead well, i can take a bad. well, i can tape victims of— dead well, i can take a bad. well, i can tape victims of jeffrey - dead well, i can take a bad. well, i can tape victims of jeffrey epstein l can tape victims ofjeffrey epstein and two of them had direct stories to tell with respect to ghislaine maxwell's direct parts in the alleged abuse and it came to these young women. by no means was she a passive observer or a girlfriend in this relationship. for my client's standpoint, they have claim she wasn't active imbued —— abuser. as well as the sexual abuse. seeing her put forward the defence like that was insulting to the young girls i represented. was insulting to the young girls i represented-— was insulting to the young girls i reresented. ~ ., ,., ~ ., , , , represented. what you think happens now, the represented. what you think happens now. the legal— represented. what you think happens now, the legal process _ represented. what you think happens now, the legal process will _ now, the legal process will continue, appeals, sentencing, what are your thoughts on what comes next? , ., , , �* , are your thoughts on what comes next? , ., _ �*, ., ., next? obviously there's a trial that's going — next? obviously there's a trial that's going to _ next? obviously there's a trial that's going to be _ next? obviously there's a trial that's going to be rather- next? obviously there's a trial. that's going to be rather simple given the verdict in this case, she will probably try to plea—bargain her way through that particular trial as opposed to another full trial, and then secondarily, she will have to sentencing him could include maximum imprisonment up to around a0 years behind bars i don't believe she will get the maximum, but my hope is that the federal judge i don't think they will be very lenient where she will probably spend the most of her life behind bars. . ., spend the most of her life behind bars. . ~ , ., spend the most of her life behind bars. . ~' , ., , spend the most of her life behind bars. . ~ y., , . spend the most of her life behind bars. . ,, ,, , . ., spend the most of her life behind bars. ., ~' i., , . ., .., bars. thank you very much for coming on to talk to — bars. thank you very much for coming on to talk to us. _ bars. thank you very much for coming on to talk to us. we _ bars. thank you very much for coming on to talk to us. we appreciate - bars. thank you very much for coming on to talk to us. we appreciate it. - on to talk to us. we appreciate it. a reminder of our —— just a reminder of our breaking news that the british socialite ghislaine maxwell has been convicted of facilitating and participating in the sexual abuse of teenage girls. the case against ghislaine maxwell has raised questions about her friendship with prince andrew. the duke of york, who is facing a separate civil court case in the united states, was mentioned by prosecution witnesses in claims about maxwell and her relationship with jeffrey epstein. here's our royal correspondent nicholas witchell. caught by the camera in this now—infamous photograph — on the left, prince andrew, in the centre, the then—i7—year—old virginia roberts, and on the right, smiling for the camera, ghislaine maxwell. andrew's friendship with ghislaine maxwell goes back more than 20 years. here he is with her injune 2000. at the time, she was jeffrey epstein's girlfriend. epstein was there as well. he, too, was a guest of prince andrew. andrew spoke about his friendship with epstein and his girlfriend, ghislaine maxwell, in his newsnight interview. in 2000, epstein was a guest at windsor castle and at sandringham. he was brought right into the heart of the royal family at your invitation. but certainly at my invitation, not at the royal family's invitation. but remember that it was his girlfriend that was the key in this. he was the, as it were, plus—one to some extent, in that aspect. am i right in thinking you threw a birthday for epstein's girlfriend, ghislaine maxwell, at sandringham? no, it was a shooting weekend. a shooting weekend? just a straightforward shooting weekend. racing at ascot, shooting at sandringham and a trip to balmoral. this photograph, an exhibit at maxwell's trial in new york, shows epstein and maxwell relaxing at the queen's balmoral estate. they were there at andrew's invitation. andrew categorically denies knowing of any improper activities by epstein or anyone else. his lawyers are mounting a robust defence against the civil lawsuit brought against him in new york by virginia roberts — or virginia giuffre as she is now. in a submission to the court, andrew's legal team say the case should be dismissed. they said the allegation against him are baseless and motivated by giuffre's desire for a payday at his expense. whatever the truth of those allegations, it's clear that andrew had a long—lasting friendship with ghislaine maxwell. it was to her that andrew turned when virginia roberts�*s allegations surfaced. in january 2015, andrew e—mailed maxwell... ..he wrote, to which maxwell replied... however, by the time andrew did his interview with newsnight, he seemed to want to distance himself from his old friend. if there are questions that ghislaine has to answer, that's her problem. i'm afraid i'm not in a position to be able to comment one way or the other. a court in new york has now delivered its verdict on ghislaine maxwell. in a few weeks, another court in new york consider the civil lawsuit against prince andrew brought by virginia giuffre. andrew's lawyers will once again plead his innocence of any impropriety. nicholas witchell, bbc news. we can now speak to sam lister — she's deputy political editor at the daily express. thank you very much for coming on the programme. what is your reaction to the verdict that we have heard? it's such an important and momentous verdict that we are seeing not only for the women involved, but anyone who is a victim of sexual abuse or exploitation. it's a really important message that the rich and powerful are not above the law. this is a significant _ powerful are not above the law. this is a significant news story in the us considering jeffrey epstein, but of course because of ghislaine maxwell's nationality of being from the uk is of significance here. absolutely. all of the newspapers are struggling now to rewrite friend pages and get this on there. it is a cute story. 0bviously pages and get this on there. it is a cute story. obviously there are implications for the palace, as we just read in your previous report, the friendship with the duke of york between ghislaine maxwell and jeffrey epstein, and that party from the duke of york being thrown fire ghislaine maxwell being referred to there in that newsnight interview, but obviously they've had close ties for many years, and obviously causes disquiet for the palace.— disquiet for the palace. those questions _ disquiet for the palace. those questions that _ disquiet for the palace. those questions that have _ disquiet for the palace. those questions that have been - disquiet for the palace. those i questions that have been around disquiet for the palace. those - questions that have been around now for, well, years, depending on where you draw it from, but certainly those conversations and many more news articles will not be written about this subject.— about this sub'ect. yes, this is certainl about this sub'ect. yes, this is certain”— about this subject. yes, this is certainly a story _ about this subject. yes, this is certainly a story that - about this subject. yes, this is certainly a story that will - about this subject. yes, this is certainly a story that will be i certainly a story that will be dominating the news for many days to come, i see the sun has managed to get theirfront page come, i see the sun has managed to get their front page out quite quickly. they've gone with the picture of ghislaine maxwell and the straightforward had word of guilty. i'm sure we will see more friend is dropping shortly with similar approaches. dropping shortly with similar approaches-— dropping shortly with similar a- roaches. ., , ., approaches. you rightly mentioned ri . ht at the approaches. you rightly mentioned right at the beginning _ approaches. you rightly mentioned right at the beginning of _ approaches. you rightly mentioned right at the beginning of your- right at the beginning of your answer and i want to come back to it now, the importance of verdicts like this for survivors and notjust in this for survivors and notjust in this specific case itself, but in many, many cases in many courts up and down the country around the world. �* , ,., , and down the country around the world. �* , ~ ., and down the country around the world. ., , ~ ., , and down the country around the world. , ~ ., , _ world. absolutely. we have seen by the lenath world. absolutely. we have seen by the length of _ world. absolutely. we have seen by the length of time _ world. absolutely. we have seen by the length of time it's _ world. absolutely. we have seen by the length of time it's taken - world. absolutely. we have seen by the length of time it's taken for - the length of time it's taken for this to come to this plane to how difficult it is to getjustice, but obviously, it can't be done, and thatis obviously, it can't be done, and that is a really important powerful message tonight. it will be looked on around the world by people who are victims and as you say survivors it is a really important message. the other important in it is a really important message. the other importan— it is a really important message. the other important in this is this of ower the other important in this is this of power of _ the other important in this is this of power of wealth _ the other important in this is this of power of wealth and _ the other important in this is this of power of wealth and fame - the other important in this is this of power of wealth and fame and | the other important in this is this - of power of wealth and fame and that implication that perhaps the of power of wealth and fame and that implication that perhaps— implication that perhaps the 'ustice s stem is implication that perhaps the 'ustice system is set i implication that perhaps the 'ustice system is set up in h implication that perhaps the 'ustice system is set up in a t implication that perhaps the 'ustice system is set up in a way _ implication that perhaps the justice system is set up in a way that - implication that perhaps the justice system is set up in a way that will. system is set up in a way that will inevitably favour those with access this to more resources in the best layers and the legal experts we had on the last hour or so, this doesn't whitewash all of that, you cannot pretend in this case justice has been done, that in every case, it's completely level playing field. it is equal footing for those with access to lots of resources and those that isn't. and i'm assuming that's notjust up the issue in the us. that's not 'ust up the issue in the us. ., ., , ,., , that's not 'ust up the issue in the us. ., , , that's not 'ust up the issue in the us. no, absolutely, but you have to think of the — us. no, absolutely, but you have to think of the wider _ us. no, absolutely, but you have to think of the wider picture _ us. no, absolutely, but you have to think of the wider picture as - us. no, absolutely, but you have to think of the wider picture as well. i think of the wider picture as well. 0bviously think of the wider picture as well. obviously the head of steam for putting ahead with this case, i took many years, but eventually, there was a groundswell of opinion that meant that there was a kind of desire to push ahead with this. now obviously, there are many young girls and women who are victims of abuse who are not in positions in power whose cases are not given this kind of spotlight who don't get this impetus down to have that behind them to kind of push these cases into the public eye and into the justice system. 0bviously, into the public eye and into the justice system. obviously, you know, there is a hell of a lot of work to be done there.— be done there. thank you very much for coming out _ be done there. thank you very much for coming out and _ be done there. thank you very much for coming out and talking _ be done there. thank you very much for coming out and talking to - be done there. thank you very much for coming out and talking to us. - for coming out and talking to us. thank you. joining me now is sarah krissoff — a former prosecutor at the southern district of new york and now in a private practice. thank you very much forjoining us on the programme. thank you very much for 'oining us on the programme._ on the programme. thank you for havint on the programme. thank you for having me- _ on the programme. thank you for having me- if _ on the programme. thank you for having me. if you _ on the programme. thank you for having me. if you don't _ on the programme. thank you for having me. if you don't mind, - on the programme. thank you for having me. if you don't mind, i i on the programme. thank you for i having me. if you don't mind, ijust having me. if you don't mind, i 'ust want to having me. if you don't mind, i 'ust went to go — having me. if you don't mind, i 'ust want to go through i having me. if you don't mind, i 'ust want to go through some i having me. if you don't mind, ijust want to go through some of our- want to go through some of our technicalities, i suppose of what has happened. there were six counts of being found guilty on five of them, talk us to that.- of being found guilty on five of them, talk us to that. there is only one count that _ them, talk us to that. there is only one count that they _ them, talk us to that. there is only one count that they did _ them, talk us to that. there is only one count that they did not - them, talk us to that. there is only one count that they did not find - one count that they did not find that they didn't find ghislaine maxwell guilty of. at that chose to me is thatjerry really carefully considered each count, and i think the questions that they posed reflected that as well.- the questions that they posed reflected that as well. sorry, the line is slightly — reflected that as well. sorry, the line is slightly delayed, - reflected that as well. sorry, the line is slightly delayed, but - reflected that as well. sorry, the line is slightly delayed, but we i reflected that as well. sorry, the i line is slightly delayed, but we are absolutely fine. we will carry on. what happens next?— absolutely fine. we will carry on. what happens next? absolutely. miss ghislaine maxwell _ what happens next? absolutely. miss ghislaine maxwell has _ what happens next? absolutely. miss ghislaine maxwell has a _ what happens next? absolutely. miss ghislaine maxwell has a period - what happens next? absolutely. miss ghislaine maxwell has a period of- ghislaine maxwell has a period of time to file a notice of appeal, that will happen not until she is sentenced. so the next part of this process is essentially post verdict motions, in every case, in every trial, the defendant has an court, telling the court, hey, this verdict went against the way of the evidence, this verdict shouldn't stand. you are asking the court to overturn the verdict. those are largely unsuccessful motions, but every defendant has the right to make those motions and they do make those motions. make those motions and they do make those motions-— those motions. then there is sentencing- _ those motions. then there is sentencing. before the - those motions. then there is - sentencing. before the sentencing, a report called the presentence report is prepared. that's prepared by the probation department which is an arm of the court. then the court sentences the defendant, keeping, taking into account what is in the presentence report, taking into account the submissions by the government and the defence. let's jump government and the defence. let's jump on that sentencing issue, because clearly those presentencing reports have not been submitted, so we cannot know what that sentencing is. i do try and work out what ballpark we are in here. the most serious count sex, trafficking of minors, a maximum sentence of a0 years. is this the kind of sentence that you would be expecting now? absolutely. i think she faces a very significant prison sentence here. several of the towns do carry mandatory minimum sentences, given the involvement of minors. thejudge has a really great discretion to impose a significant sentence and based on the evidence that is presented at trial, i expect the judge to impose a very severe sentence on her. i judge to impose a very severe sentence on her.— judge to impose a very severe sentence on her. i 'ust want to touch on this h sentence on her. i 'ust want to touch on this now,_ sentence on her. ijust want to touch on this now, given - sentence on her. ijust want to touch on this now, given yourl touch on this now, given your experience, thejewellery touch on this now, given your experience, the jewellery —— jerry in those deliberations, when the media, public are waiting for a verdict in cases like this, there's lots of effort to try and read into exactly what is going on by little clues, juries requesting more evidence or how long they take to deliberate. what do you make of that in this case? i deliberate. what do you make of that in this case?— in this case? i mean, i can take that the prosecution _ in this case? i mean, i can take that the prosecution team - in this case? i mean, i can take that the prosecution team in i in this case? i mean, i can take| that the prosecution team in the defence team did the same. so they took those notes and really tried to infer from those notes where the jury infer from those notes where the jury was heading. i think, again, the notes from the jury really indicated that they were carefully and thoroughly going through each count and evaluating the evidence with regard to each count independently, which i think is a good thing for the government on appeal here. but there where some notes that i think frankly were probably concerning to both sides along the way, but ultimately the jury along the way, but ultimately the jury was a ball to reach a verdict. i think the longer thatjerry takes, both sides get worried that the jury will not reach a verdict, and in particularly in light of covid and the possibility at any moment that a juror could get sick and because a mistrial or they need to restart deliberations really need that... a sense of urgency to the deliberations here. i sense of urgency to the deliberations here. , , , ,.,, deliberations here. i 'ust suppose we should deliberations here. i 'ust suppose we sheutt just h deliberations here. i 'ust suppose we should just touch_ deliberations here. ijust suppose we should just touch on _ deliberations here. ijust suppose we should just touch on that, - we should just touch on that, because it was very unusual circumstances around that with christmas, which, of course, creates time tabling issues. and a threat to omicron. there is a very real threat that was there this whole thing effectively would have to be abandoned.— effectively would have to be abandoned. ~ , , ., abandoned. absolutely, the 'udge had offered a jerry — abandoned. absolutely, the 'udge had offeredajerryanfi abandoned. absolutely, thejudge had offered a jerry an opportunity - abandoned. absolutely, thejudge had offered a jerry an opportunity to - offered a jerry an opportunity to sit —— jury an opportunity to sit on thursday and thatjury declined that opportunity. i think the judge was worried that the threat of coal that hanging over everything in the holidays that there was a real possibility that they where not going to have 12 jurors at the end of the day to finish these deliberations. thejury of the day to finish these deliberations. the jury declined that opportunity, the opportunity i believe yesterday to sit until 6pm and thejudge believe yesterday to sit until 6pm and the judge asked them if they would be willing to sit until 6pm instead of five p:m., thejerry said no, thank you, we want to go home, but we will be back in the morning to resume. ——jury. so but we will be back in the morning to resume. —— jury. so thejudge urged thejury without to resume. —— jury. so thejudge urged the jury without pushing them continued that deliberations as long as possible, unfortunately they were about —— they were not going to reach a verdict without, you know, having to start this process over again, which bank they would have been incredibly difficult for everyone on all sides. absolutely. on the everyone on all sides. absolutely. 0n the case _ everyone on all sides. absolutely. on the case itself, _ everyone on all sides. absolutely. on the case itself, cases - everyone on all sides. absolutely. on the case itself, cases involving 0n the case itself, cases involving sexual abuse from such a long time ago, they are hugely challenging for the legal process at the best of times, and this is an example that perhaps will be have doesn't matter about the passage of time. we can get these things right. i about the passage of time. we can get these things right.— get these things right. i think that i get these things right. i think that i think that's _ get these things right. i think that i think that's an _ get these things right. i think that i think that's an incredibly - get these things right. i think that i think that's an incredibly point i i think that's an incredibly point —— poignantand i think that's an incredibly point —— poignant and something i've been thinking about lately. the district of new york has an incredible legacy of new york has an incredible legacy of investigating and prosecuting crimes that took place a long time ago that are hard to prove. the fact that these events took face decades ago makes it incredibly challenging case to investigate and to bring, but i think this case really should stand as an example to prosecutors across the country that those cases are possible, it's possible to have are possible, it's possible to have a good outcome with those cases, but more importantly, it's important to bring those cases to make sure the victims are heard and seen. it happens all the time and the case is of violence, murder cases that go on prosecuted and sex crimes that go on prosecuted, and its important message, i think, prosecuted, and its important message, ithink, that prosecuted, and its important message, i think, that those cases should and can be brought. the message, i think, that those cases should and can be brought. a really towerful should and can be brought. a really powerful note _ should and can be brought. a really powerful note to _ should and can be brought. a really powerful note to finish _ should and can be brought. a really powerful note to finish on - should and can be brought. a really powerful note to finish on there. i powerful note to finish on there. thank you very much for talking to us, so expertly guiding us through all those issues. thank you. thank ou. i'm joined now by our correspondent nomia iqbal, who's outside the courthouse in manhattan. hello again. just talk us through what has been happening there over the last hour or so. 50. what has been happening there over the last hour or so.— the last hour or so. so, when the verdict came _ the last hour or so. so, when the verdict came in, _ the last hour or so. so, when the verdict came in, of— the last hour or so. so, when the verdict came in, of course, - the last hour or so. so, when the verdict came in, of course, there | verdict came in, of course, there was a huge media scrum, as you can imagine. so much media outside the court waiting the last few days for that verdict to come in. we are still expecting the family of ghislaine maxwell to come out, her four siblings have been in court every day to watch the proceedings, the trial lasted for about three weeks. so, we are getting more reaction to that verdict, just a reminder again the verdict on ghislaine maxwell, she was charged with six counts having to do with the sexual abuse of young women and girls, and she was found guilty of five of them and count two where she was found not guilty unanimously was enticing a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, and that was in reference to one of the victims named jane. there were four women in total the prosecution built their case on, and on the one identified herself publicly at trial, her name is annie farmer. based on their testimony, the prosecution tried to show that ghislaine maxwell was not an innocent bystander in the life of jeffrey epstein. she wasn'tjust some employee who came in and out of his life. she was present all the time, particularly in his residential life, where she managed the house, where much of the sexual abuse took place. they say she was integral to that abuse, that she was this very captivating, very elegant woman who was a member of the upper edges of british society that women felt comfortable, these are young girls, naive, innocent, vulnerable girls, naive, innocent, vulnerable girls —— girls who were comfortable with her that we are reflected in the testimonies we talked about how they always wanted to please her and impress her, she would take them on holidays and by them gifts, she was going to set up these massages that were sexual in nature, which they were sexual in nature, which they were then forced to perform on jeffrey epstein. the defence had argued that maxwell was innocent and that she had no clue what he was up to, that he compartmentalised his life and there were things that he kept from her. thejury life and there were things that he kept from her. the jury rejected that narrative. finding her guilty on five of the six charges. flit on five of the six charges. of course, on five of the six charges. of course, we didn't hear from her course, we didn't hearfrom her because she did not testify. did she say why? she said that she would not take the stand because she did nothing the government had proven the charges against her beyond reasonable doubt. when the verdict came in, she did not really give much reaction in court. she is a very striking figure in court, very tall woman, she was dressed in black, headache like mask on as well. she was very animated talking to her attorneys. she made lots of notes throughout the trial and we believe she passed her notes through her lawyers to her siblings, who have been here every day since she has been on trial and waiting for that verdicts to come through as well, but, no, she did not take the stand will stub she said the case was not proven, but the jury rejected that on five charges. fiend rejected that on five charges. and ou have rejected that on five charges. and you have mentioned that media scrub. how much of an interest has this case been gathering across the us? huge interest, because ghislaine maxwell is somet who is been under suspicion for more than a decade, and her relationship withjeffrey epstein, the billionaire financier, the convicted sex offender, is something that was very well known in parts of america. i've spoken to a few people who say that they met maxwell or epstein at a party in new york that she was someone who captivated the room, she really knew how to work a room, she would make you feel if you were the only person in the room as well, and they rubbed shoulders with some of the most powerful people, and we heard that during the trial. the former pilot forjeffrey epstein, who testified forjeffrey epstein, who testified for the prosecution, talked about how he would fly some of the most famous people around in the private jet, he named chris andrew about the duke of york, queen elizabeth ii's son, he also named former president donald trump and bill clinton —— prince andrew. i should emphasise no allegations were made against any of them during the trial, the testimonies are based on four women who said the abuse that they suffered stretched back decades, i99a to 200a, but suffered stretched back decades, 199a to 200a, but there has been huge interest and there is still ongoing interest as well and also you get people like bloggers as well, people who have set up their own channels to talk about this trial. there's lots of conspiracy theories with the trial, and with theories with the trial, and with the whole story as well, so it does really appeal to people. the case wasn't, the trial was not televised, you cannot have cameras in a federal trial as well, so we've been relying on, as reporters, we have been going in and out of the court, but also sketch artists have been capturing every single moment of the trial. 0k, nomia, take you for that. we are expecting more reaction from outside the court, and we'll cross back to you as and when we get that. but for the moment, thank you. hello, you are watching bbc news. i am lewis vaughanjones. the headlines: the british socialite ghislaine maxwell is found guilty on five counts of grooming and trafficking teenage girls for abuse by a jury in new york. maxwell procured the girls for the financier and convicted sex offenderjeffrey epstein — she faces the rest of her life behind bars. no matter who you are, no matter what kind of circles you travel in, and matter how much money you have, no matter how many years have passed since the sexual abuse, justice is still possible. we'll be looking at the implications of the verdict for prince andrew, who is named in a lawsuit brought by a woman who says she was groomed by maxwell and abused by the prince. a jury in new york has found the british socialite ghislaine maxwell guilty of having helped the late financier, jeffrey epstein, sexually abuse teenage girls. the jurors found the 60—year—old guilty of another four charges connected with procuring the victims and facilitating the abuse. she was found not guilty on one other charge. the defence team is expected to appeal against the verdict. the convictions mean maxwell faces the possibility of spending the rest of her life in prison. well, with the background to the case and what led to this verdict, the bbc�*s aleem maqbool has this report. ghislaine maxwell will now finally pay for her terrible crimes. her victims were robbed ofjustice for decades, but four of them have helped put a now infamous sexual predator behind bars. each was from a troubled or cash—strapped home, and the court heard how ghislaine maxwell gained their trust. during their explicit and emotional testimony, they told the jury how she instructed them to get the late jeffrey epstein massages that turned sexual. all but one, annie farmer, testified anonymously, using a psuedonym or just theirfirst name. jane said maxwell participated in her sexual encounter with epstein... kate said after sexual contact with epstein, maxwell asked her if she had fun, saying she... carolyn said maxwell told her she had a great body for epstein and his friends before touching her breasts. and annie farmer, the only victim who publicly identified herself,