Ghislaine Maxwell mistrial: Juror who was sexually abused could provide grounds
New details about the jury that convicted Ghislaine Maxwell have emerged, and it could spell trouble for the prosecution. Reportedly, details about one jury member mean that legally, Maxwell and her team have grounds to claim mistrial. In fact, it appears to be so big that one former federal prosecutor noted, " certainly hope the juror disclosed this fully on his questionnaire. It could definitely be an issue."
After 40 hours of deliberation, the jury found Maxwell guilty on five of the six counts she was charged with on December 29, exactly a month after her trial began in Manhattan. The trial revealed many shocking details about Jeffery Epstein's sex ring, including the many high-profile individuals he flew with on his plane 'Lolita Express'. The trial brings some sense of closure to the many girls who've been abused by Epstein and Maxwell over the years, but it could all be for naught.
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With Maxwell now facing up to 65 years in jail, it seems possible she could appeal for a mistrial after one of the jurors opened up to The Independent about the case. While doing so, he may have also inadvertently revealed the very thing that gets Maxwell off the hook, for now at least.
How can Maxwell claim a mistrial?
Speaking to The Independent, juror Scotty David said, "this verdict is for all the victims." He became the first juror to speak up about the trial, when his interview was published on January 4. He added, “For those who testified, for those who came forward, and for those who haven’t come forward. I’m glad that Maxwell has been held accountable." Throughout the trial, Maxwell's lawyers attempted to discredit the witnesses, depicting them as "money-hungry" or damaged by years of substance abuse.
However, it appears David said those efforts didn't pay off. "They were all believable. Nothing they said felt to me like a lie." He then went on to reveal that he himself was a victim of sexual abuse, noting how it could blur small details. "I know what happened when I was sexually abused. I remember the color of the carpet, the walls. Some of it can be replayed like a video," he said. David added, "But I can’t remember all the details, there are some things that run together."
That admission could prove to be the very key for Maxwell. Legal experts noted that if he did not disclose being a victim of sexual abuse to the court earlier, it could be grounds for a mistrial. "A little strange the defense didn't strike him," noted former prosecutor Moira Penza to The Daily Mail. So far, Maxwell's team has not commented on David's interview, but it appears the door is certainly open if they wish to take it.
Nonetheless, David is still celebrating the verdict. "This verdict shows that you can be found guilty no matter your status," he said, adding that "we cannot judge what they (the victims) did or didn’t do afterward. It doesn’t change that it happened." The disgraced socialite is now awaiting sentencing, a date for which has not been set.