Why does Ghislaine Maxwell have BLACK EYE? First photo of Jeffrey Epstein's ex since arrest shows graying hair
In her first picture from behind bars since her arrest last year, Ghislaine Maxwell was seen with a black eye on Thursday, April 29. The photo was included in a court filing on April 29 by the British socialite's 'superlawyer' Bobbi Sternheim as part of their continuing complaints about Maxwell's care at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center. Sternheim is known to have represented Osama Bin Laden's henchmen.
The 59-year-old, who has pleaded not guilty to allegations that she exploited underage girls for ex-boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein's use, said she didn't know where the bruise came from. Reportedly, it may have been caused by her covering her eyes with a sock or a towel to block the light. In the picture, Maxwell can be seen looking visibly more aged, with her usual cropped black hair now outgrown and graying, according to Daily Mail.
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No mirror but has well-plucked eyebrows
Since cameras and recording devices are not permitted at trials, Maxwell has only been seen in court sketches until now. Maxwell's counsel Sternheim wrote in a filing to the federal court in New York that Maxwell was "confronted by MDC staff due a visible bruise over her left eye", the Daily Mail said in a report. Despite having 24/7 camera surveillance on her at all times, Sternheim said Maxwell received a "black eye".
The filing read: "No guard addressed the bruise until Ms Maxwell, who has no mirror, caught a reflection of her aching eye in the glean of a nail clipper." "At that point," it continued, "MDC staff confronted Ms Maxwell regarding the source of the bruise, threatening to place her in the SHU if she did not reveal how she got it." The SHU, or the Security Housing Units, are the most restrictive part of the prison.
Despite claiming not to have a mirror, Maxwell seems to be able to maintain well-plucked brows, as per the picture. "While Ms Maxwell is unaware of the cause of the bruise, as reported to medical and psych staff, she has grown increasingly reluctant to report information to the guards for fear of retaliation, discipline, and punitive chores," the letter continued.
Sock for an eyemask
The filing added, "There is concern that the bruise may be related to the need for Ms Maxwell to shield her eyes from the lights projected into her cell throughout the night." Every 15 minutes, guards shine a light into her jail cell to ensure she is still alive and has not attempted suicide, according to lawyer Sternheim. Her lawyer, David Oscar Markus, had earlier admitted that she does not have an eye mask to stop her from waking and that she is using a sock or a towel as a makeshift mask, Daily Mail reported.
Guards at Brooklyn jail where Maxwell is being held threatened to move her to separate housing if she couldn't justify the bruise, according to a letter to the district court judge overseeing the case. Sternheim noted the 'irony' of the situation if Maxwell were put in the SHU as it would insinuate that she "needs protection from the very staff so intent on protecting her, since she has no contact with anyone but staff", the Daily Mail reported.
Prosecutors must clarify within a week whether or not Maxwell is being subjected to "flashlight monitoring" and whether she might be given "reasonable eye protection", according to Judge Alison J Nathan, Sky News said. In her first appearance before a judge last week, Maxwell pleaded not guilty to all charges.