Prince Andrew's accuser has spoken out about how 'others must be held accountable' following the announcement of Ghislaine Maxwell's guilty verdict last night (29 December).
Virginia Roberts Giuffre took to Twitter after the New York trial found Maxwell, the former girlfriend of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, guilty of five out of six counts of grooming underage girls for Epstein's peadophile ring.
"My soul yearned for justice for years and today the jury gave me just that. I will remember this day always," Giuffre tweeted.
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"Having lived with the horrors of Maxwell’s abuse, my heart goes out to the many other girls and young women who suffered at her hands and whose lives she destroyed."
She then added: "I hope that today is not the end but rather another step in justice being served. Maxwell did not act alone.
"Others must be held accountable. I have faith that they will be."
The 38-year-old has alleged that she was sexually abused by Prince Andrew, a close friend of Epstein and Maxwell, in 2001 when she was 17-years-old while in New York City.
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Although the royal has strongly denied the claims, Giuffre filed a lawsuit against the Duke of York in the Southern District Court of New York back in August under the state’s Child Victims Act.
"During this encounter, Epstein, Maxwell, and Prince Andrew forced Plaintiff, a child, to have sexual intercourse with Prince Andrew against her will," the suit read.
Giuffre is seeking unspecified damages for battery as well as infliction of emotional distress.
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She said in a statement: "I am holding Prince Andrew accountable for what he did to me. The powerful and rich are not exempt from being held responsible for their actions.
"I hope that other victims will see that it is possible not to live in silence and fear, but to reclaim one's life by speaking out and demanding justice.
"As a mother and a wife, my family comes first - and I know that this action will subject me to further attacks by Prince Andrew and his surrogates - but I knew if I did not pursue this action, I would be letting them and victims everywhere down."
Although the Duke of York's lawyers are looking at getting Giuffre's lawsuit thrown out due to her no longer living in the United States, Maxwell's guilty verdict will certainly come as bad news for the royal.
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Prince Andrew was already facing being questioned under oath in the US in front of a jury about his alleged crimes so Maxwell's verdict may add pressure to the process.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Jeffrey Epstein, Royal Family, Crime
