And annie farmer, the only victim who publicly identified herself, said Ghislaine Maxwell gave her an unsolicited massage and rubbed her breasts. She said. Legal experts said the defence� s attack on the womens memories and motives didnt 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 thats very, very difficult for the jurors 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 homes showed the duos jet setting luxurious lifestyle. In this photo, the pair are seen relaxing at the queens 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, forbidding them from making eye contact with epstein. I think this guilty verdict is immensely meaningful for sexual Abuse Victims everywhere. That no matter who you are, no matter what kind of circles you travel in, no matter how much money you have, no matter 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. In the last hour or so, weve had this statement from the us attorneys office. It says. One ofJeffrey Epstein� s accusers, Virginia Giuffre, just released a statement in reaction to the verdicts. In the statement, she says. She goes on to say. Earlier, my colleague ben bolous spoke with the author of Prince Andrew epstein, maxwell and the palace Nigel Cawthorne. He gave his reaction to the verdict. Its really not surprising. Obviously the jury took a long time because there were very technical matters involved in the six various charges here, but it was pretty clear from the beginning that the one thing we did know was that Jeffrey Epstein was involved in having sex with underage women, he admitted it back in 2005, in a criminal case back then, and Ghislaine Maxwell was around him at that time, so she must have known what was going on. So she would have been. And thejudge what was going on. So she would have been. And the judge already pointed out to the jury at the very beginning that that made her culpable, if she had willfully ignored what was going on. find culpable, if she had willfully ignored what was going on. And in terms of what ignored what was going on. And in terms of what came ignored what was going on. And in terms of what came to ignored what was going on. And in terms of what came to light ignored what was going on. And in | terms of what came to light during the evidence we heard in this trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, did we learn anything new about what had happened between Jeffrey Epstein anything new about what had happened betweenJeffrey Epstein and his victims . Between Jeffrey Epstein and his victims . ,. ,. , between Jeffrey Epstein and his victims . ,. , victims . No, not really, because so much of this victims . No, not really, because so much of this had victims . No, not really, because so much of this had been victims . No, not really, because so much of this had been covered much of this had been covered worldwide in the press already. I think we were all rather surprised at how few, that there were only four women brought by the prosecution in this case, when i think there were over 150 compensated by epstein� s estate for similar matters, so that was rather surprising, and then the defence reallyjust surprising, and then the defence really just wasnt there. Elizabeth loftus, a professor, a pioneer of this false memory syndrome, a thing not recognised by the American Psychological association, has only ever appeared for the prosecution once in hundreds of cases, and surely if witnesses for the prosecution can have false memories, then witnesses for the defence can have false memories too. What then witnesses for the defence can have false memories too. Then witnesses for the defence can have false memories too. What do you think the applications have false memories too. What do you think the applications are have false memories too. What do you think the applications are going think the applications are Going Forward with the civil trial the implications, The Civil Case against Prince Andrew . We know a usjudge had said the aim was to proceed with that in late 2022. Do you think this affects that at all . I that in late 2022. Do you think this affects that at all . Affects that at all . I think it will. Affects that at all . I think it will but affects that at all . I think it will. But first affects that at all . I think it will. But first theres affects that at all . I think it will. But first theres a affects that at all . | think it. Will. But first theres a hearing affects that at all . | think it will. But first theres a hearing on january the 4th, where the defence are trying to get the whole case thrown out, one of the grounds is the fact that Virginia Giuffre, who is suing Prince Andrew, claimed in the complaint that she was a resident in colorado, when she is actually a resident in australia, which would technically make the jurisdiction, Put Thejurisdiction of the court in jeopardy. However, now that Ghislaine Maxwell has been found guilty of trafficking, it makes that picture of her with Virginia Giuffre and Prince Andrew in her house rather difficult to explain. In her house rather difficult to exlain. , in her house rather difficult to exlain,. ,. ,. , in her house rather difficult to exlain. , explain. 0k, and when we look at the situation, explain. Ok, and when we look at the situation, i suppose there was a sense from the defence that the lee mansell ended up defence that the lee mansell ended up more in the spotlight after the death ofJeffrey Epstein that perhaps he would not have done had he been alive. Perhaps he would not have done had he been alive he been alive. Undoubtedly that is the case. He been alive. Undoubtedly that is the case it he been alive. Undoubtedly that is the case it is he been alive. Undoubtedly that is the case. It is very he been alive. Undoubtedly that is the case. It is very difficult he been alive. Undoubtedly that is the case. It is very difficult to the case. It is very difficult to see how he would play out otherwise, and she certainly would not have beenin and she certainly would not have been in the spotlight in this way, and it is. The defence did make a reasonable argument that she was a scapegoat in this case. However, the Jury Scapegoat in this case. However, the jury didnt fall for that. find scapegoat in this case. However, the jury didnt fall for that. Jury didnt fall for that. And then we have heard jury didnt fall for that. And then we have heard that jury didnt fall for that. And then we have heard that the jury didnt fall for that. And then we have heard that the jail jury didnt fall for that. And then | we have heard that the jail terms could be a0 years on the most serious of the charges she has been found guilty of. I mean, this would mean Ghislaine Maxwell spends the rest of her days behind bars. Weill. Rest of her days behind bars. Well, it would, but rest of her days behind bars. Well, it would, but im rest of her days behind bars. Well, it would, but im not rest of her days behind bars. Well, it would, but im not a rest of her days behind bars. Well, it would, but im not a lawyer rest of her days behind bars. Ii it would, but im not a lawyer and you just heard from professor dershowitz, who is more of an expert on these things than i am, and as he says, theres bound to be a round of appeals. Even on the grounds, how could she possibly have a fair trial when this matter has been publicised the world around . That when this matter has been publicised the world around . The world around . That was Nigel Cawthorne being the world around . That was Nigel Cawthorne being interviewed the world around . That was Nigel Cawthorne being interviewed by i the world around . That was nigel i cawthorne being interviewed by my colleague just a little earlier. I want to review estate we have had in from Robert Glassman here, a lawyer representing jane, one of maxwells accusers who testified at her trial. Maxwells accusers who testified at hertrial. Maxwells accusers who testified at her trial. A statement. Ijust have the text here, it is worth reading in full, Robert Glassman says, the verdict screams loud and clear, if you make it easierfor another to sexually abuse children, you too will be held accountable for your role in that abuse. The strong Women Survivors of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epsteins abuse can all sleep better tonight knowing that the Justice System got it right. Jerry stayed focused on what really mattered. Miss maxwell played a Critical Role in helping Jeffrey Epstein sexually abused girls. So that statement from one of the lawyers of one of maxwells accusers. Lets get some more analysis now on what happened earlier. Earlier, my colleague ben boulos spoke to the us lawyer lisa bloom, who represented eight women who say they were abused byJeffrey Epstein. She welcomed the verdict. Nobody wants to go to court and testify in a Sexual Assault trial. Most people will never even call an attorney, most people willjust somehow manage to live with it. It takes extraordinary courage, not only to go in and testify in front of a roomful of strangers, but then to be for hour after hour about every detail of your life, about the most team of the ageing aspects of your life, and thats what four women did in this case yuma leading aspects. And they did it because it was the right thing to do. There was no money in it for them. They had already get payments from the Victims Compensation fund, but they did because they wanted justice against Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted six were back trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, i can now say, and he did it as a benefit to all of us. �. , and he did it as a benefit to all of us. ~. ,. ,. , and he did it as a benefit to all of us. , us. And what effects does it have for other victims us. And what effects does it have for other victims of us. And what effects does it have for other victims of sexual us. And what effects does it have for other victims of sexual abuse | for other victims of sexual abuse and trafficking, crimes of this nature . What is a do in terms of sending a message to them and supporting them in wanting to see their abusers face justice . Its their abusers face justice . It; tremendously inspiring, and it lifts up tremendously inspiring, and it lifts up all of the survivors of sexual abuse. I can tell you he represents many sexual Abuse Victims right now, scores and scores of them, and some of them have reached out to me and said, maybe i can really win in my case, because now i see this is whats happened in Ghislaine Maxwells case, maybe i can endure the slow legal process, a few more months or a few more years, whatever it takes, because these women did it. Keep in mind, these victims were abused in 1990s and in the early to thousands, notice 202i. Abused in 1990s and in the early to thousands, notice 2021. They been living with this for a long time. Annie farmer, the fourth 20 testified in the trial, was abused in 1996. She went to the police 1996. They ignored her as they so often do in sexual abuse cases, but now all of these years later, finally, we havejustice. It now all of these years later, finally, we have justice. Finally, we have ustice. It took several finally, we have ustice. It took seveel days finally, we have ustice. It took several days of finally, we havejustice. It took several days of deliberation. I several days of deliberation. However is that for those who give evidence to wait as the jury comes back with questions how agonising is that . It back with questions how agonising is that . ,. ,. ,. ,. , is that . It is agonising, and is a Trial Attorney is that . It is agonising, and is a Trial Attorney myself is that . It is agonising, and is a Trial Attorney myself when is that . It is agonising, and is a Trial Attorney myself when i is that . It is agonising, and is a Trial Attorney myself when i do | Trial Attorney myself when i do these Sexual Assault cases, that is these Sexual Assault cases, that is the hardest part, because i have control over what i say and do at the trial, and know all the evidence is in, closing evidence is in and then you just have to wait, and pretty victims, it is 100 times worse. And for the victims. I was concerned as the days were dragging on and they were having more questions and did not reach a decision before christmas, i was concerned, does somet have reasonable doubt . If you have one juror who was on the other side who has a reasonable doubt, you do not have a verdict, so it was definitely an agonising time, but well worth it. And, look, thejury did a good job because they asked for transcript after transcript. They asked to see the testimony of almost every witness who testified at the trial, they looked at photos, they look at documents, they really went over it and, ultimately, in my opinion, came to the right decision. The two of them, bothJeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, these were wealthy people, they moved in influential circles, they were powerful. Does this say that, no matter how wealthy, no matter how well connected you are, you cannot get away with this sort of thing . Does it send that message to people who have been victims, who are survivors, of abuse at the hands of people who they think will never be brought to justice, that actually ultimately justice brought to justice, that actually ultimatelyjustice can be done . There is no question that in our criminaljustice there is no question that in our criminal Justice System, there is no question that in our criminalJustice System, having money and power is a huge advantage. And i am not here, i am money and power is a huge advantage. And i am not here, iam knocking money and power is a huge advantage. And i am not here, i am knocking to be like pollyanna and say, this just go to show no matter how much money you have, you are always going to be brought to justice, because of course that is not true. Ghislaine maxwell has walks free on this earth for 60 years. I hope she never has a day of freedom the rest of her life for what she has done to so many women and girls, so she got 60 years of freedom, whereas i think other people who were not wealthy and powerful what a lot less, but it does show us there is always hope, and also want to say that the four accusers he testified, they are imperfect people. They admitted to drug addictions, to selling sex for money, to having prior inconsistent statements, to having asserted claims for money, which i dont think is a bad thing. That was used against them. All that came out at the trial and they endured it. But you know what . Thejury the trial and they endured it. But you know what . The jury saw through it, and they saw that you dont have to be a perfect person nobody is to come forward with a claim of sexual abuse, and especially when there are four women came forward with similar stories. I thing that is what sealed it for them. That was the la er is what sealed it for them. That was the lawyer lisa is what sealed it for them. That was the lawyer lisa bloom is what sealed it for them. That was the lawyer lisa bloom speaking is what sealed it for them. That was the lawyer lisa bloom speaking to l is what sealed it for them. That was l the lawyer lisa bloom speaking to my colleague earlier. Ijust want the lawyer lisa bloom speaking to my colleague earlier. I just want to repeat one of the statement weve had come through. One ofJeffrey Epsteins accusers, Virginia Giuffre, just released a statement in reaction to the verdicts. In the statement, she says. She goes on to say. Earlier, i spoke to sarah krissoff, a former prosecutor at the Southern District of new york. Shes previously prosecuted six trafficking cases and crimes against children, and is now in a private practice. She explained more about what we can learn from these verdicts. There is only one count that they did not find miss maxwell guilty of. What that chose to be is the jury really considered carefully each count and i think the questions that they posed during the course of deliberations reflected that as well. Sorry, the line is slightly delayed, but were absolutely fine. Well carry on. So given that verdict, that careful consideration that you spoke of there, What Happens Next . Absolutely. Miss 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 opportunity to make motions to the court, telling the court, hey, this verdict went against the weight of the evidence, this verdict shouldnt stand , 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. Then theres sentencing. Before the sentencing, a report called the Presentence Report is prepared. Thats prepared by the probation department, which is an arm of the court. Then the Court Sentences the defendant, taking into account what is in the Presentence Report, the submissions by the government and the defence. Lets justjump on that sentencing issue, because, clearly, those presentencing reports have not been submitted, so we cannot know what that sentencing is. Butjust to 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 sentences that you would be expecting now . Absolutely. I think she faces a very significant Prison Sentence here. Several of the counts do carry mandatory minimum sentences, given the involvement of minors. Thejudge has really great discretion to impose a significant sentence, and based on the evidence that was presented at trial, frankly, i expect the judge to impose a very severe sentence upon her. Our thanks to sarah krissoff, taking us through the technicalities of that case. And this is the main story this hour. 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 she was found not guilty on one charge. The convictions mean maxwell faces the possibility of spending the rest of her life in prison. We will be awaiting sentencing now, but count six, the most serious, of which she was convicted, the Sex Trafficking of minors, carries a potential maximum sentence of a0 years. So she faces, certainly, a considerable stretch of time in prison. Ijust want considerable stretch of time in prison. I just want to finish quickly with a statement from one of the accuseds lawyers. The verdict screams loud and clear, if you make it easier to sexually abuse children, you too will be held accountable for your role in that abuse. Thats it. Im Lewis Vaughan jones. This is bbc news. Bye bye. More of the next two, and the next few days. Pulses of exceptionally mild air northwards. Temperatures reaching possibly 16 or 17, and northwards. Temperatures reaching possibly16 or17, and in northwards. Temperatures reaching possibly 16 or 17, and in contrast, the temperatures we would normally expect at this time of the year, it is pretty exceptional, not far away from the english temperature record, which is 17. 7. As we head into thursday morning, we see outbreaks of rain turning heavier across western areas, a very mild start to the day. The rain will be heavy for a time. It does tend to ease off and become a little wood later and patch year across northwestern areas. Otherwise, a lot of cloud, a bit of drizzle. Later in the day, pulses of rain heading to Northwest England into thursday afternoon. Temperatures, 13 degrees in glasgow and belfast. 16 again the top temperature in london. We could see a high of 17. Outbreaks of rain much more sense of as this moves in. Also bring some strong gusts of wind quite widely and into new years eve, friday, that rain is going to be there for much of the day in scotland, with some fairly brisk winds elsewhere busted again they will be a lot of cloud around, and occasional spot of drizzle and those temperatures still reaching 16, possibly 17 in the warmest areas. Still mild further northwards, but is not quite as exceptional. Heading to those new years celebrations, might be a bit more muted for one or two of you, but it stays exceptionally mild. A bit of rain. As those spells strike midnight, these are the kind of temperatures we will have out and about. Heading into new years day, saturday, we start off with extended cloud, bursts of rain pushing eastwards, quite a gusty windy kind of day. The afternoon does look a bit brighter with the number of heavy showers flowing in across western areas. It is still very mild, 13 in aberdeen, 1a or glasgow. Highs could reach 17 in the warmest areas new years day. This is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. Im Lewis Vaughan jones. 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. It doesnt matter who you are, no matter what kind of circles you travel in, no matter how much money you have, no matter how many years have passed since the sexual abuse, justice is still possible. Well 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