The British royal house is in the news again as Prince Andrew’s wife, the Duchess of York could be called to testify in the long-running sexual assault lawsuit against him.
The accuser to the Duke of York, Virginia Roberts Gluffre has, through her lawyer, David Boies, spoken of her intentions to have the 2 British witnesses testify to a New York Judge.
This comes after lawyers to Ms Roberts said that they would request for Prince Andrew to give testimony under oath, a move that sparked speculations that the royal’s former wife, Sarah, Duchess of York could be subpoenaed.
Sigrid McCawley, another lawyer for Ms Roberts suggested that one of the people who could ask for a deposition was Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.
The 61-year old Duke of York is facing a civil lawsuit in the US after Ms Roberts filed the lawsuit in August alleging that she was forced to have s*x wit him three times under orders from paedophile Jeffery Epstein in 2001 when she was only 17.
The prince has always vehemently denied the allegation and seeks to have the US case thrown out.
In her civil lawsuit, Ms Roberts also alleged that was forces to have s*x with the Prince at Jeffery Epstein’s mansion in New York and on little St James, his private island in the Caribbean.
Roberts alleges she was ‘trafficked’ to London in March 2001, where she was photographed next to Andrew in Maxwell’s house.
Andrew has maintained he has ‘no recollection’ of the meeting and continues to deny the narrative.
Virginia Roberts also stated that she has suffered ‘significant emotional and psychological distress and harm’ because of her alleged abuse.
She is claiming damages which could run into multiples of mullions of pounds if her suit succeeds.
In her lawsuit, she insists that Andrew knew she was a victim of sex trafficking by Epstein and was well aware she was a minor under US law.
The law suit alleges that she was ‘compelled by express threats by Epstein, Maxwell and/or Prince Andrew to engage in sexual acts with Price Andrew, and feared death or physical injury to herself or another and other repercussions for disobeying Epstein, Maxwell and Prince Andrew due to their powerful connections, wealth and authority..
Ghislaine Maxwell is also facing a criminal trial for allegedly procuring and trafficking underage girls for Epstein, an allegation that she has denied.
The judge in the Prince Andrew sexual abuse civil case is planning to hold a trial between September and December in 2022.
During the short telephone hearing, New York Judge Lewis Kaplan said that “in another era, I would probably set a trial date today but you are aware of the difficulties of getting juries”, referring to precautions now being taken because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He went on to say: “I would anticipate September to December period (next year).”
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