Prosecutors have argued that Ghislaine Maxwell should get at least 30 years in prison, saying she played an 'instrumental role' in her late partner Jeffrey Epstein's crimes.
Last December, the 60-year-old British socialite was found guilty of five out of six charges she was facing in relation to the sex trafficking of minors.
Ahead of her sentencing on 28 June, her lawyers argued that she should serve less time behind bars, citing alleged abuse in her past and placing the blame on Epstein.
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However, in written arguments filed to Manhattan federal court on Wednesday, June 22, prosecutors described her as 'shockingly predatory' and requested the judge to sentence her to between 30 and 55 years in prison.
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They wrote, as Associated Press reports: "As part of a disturbing agreement with Jeffrey Epstein, Maxwell identified, groomed, and abused multiple victims, while she enjoyed a life of extraordinary luxury and privilege.
"In her wake, Maxwell left her victims permanently scarred with emotional and psychological injuries.
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“That damage can never be undone, but it can be accounted for in crafting a just sentence for Maxwell’s crimes."
The statement also addressed the defence lawyers' previous call for a sentence of no more than five years, with a memo obtained by Insider claiming the 60-year-old's life is being threatened by other inmates.
Prosecutors added: "It is unsurprising that a woman who had led a life of incredible luxury should complain about her life as a prisoner, but that fact does not come close to meriting leniency at sentencing, much less the extraordinary degree of leniency the defendant seeks."
Describing Maxwell as 'an adult who made her own choices', they continued: "She made the choice to sexually exploit numerous underage girls.
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"She made the choice to conspire with Epstein for years, working as partners in crime and causing devastating harm to vulnerable victims."
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If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 8am–10pm Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm weekends. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivor’s Trust for free on 08088 010 818, or through their website thesurvivorstrust.org
Topics: Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein, Crime, US News