Prince Andrew settles US civil sex assault case

[Chippy_Tea]

It must be nice to have enough money make an out-of-court settlement.



Prince Andrew has settled a civil sexual assault case brought against him in the US by Virginia Giuffre, court documents show.

Ms Giuffre had been suing the Duke of York, claiming he sexually assaulted her on three occasions when she was 17, allegations he has repeatedly denied.

A letter filed to the US district court on Tuesday said the duke and Ms Giuffre had reached an out-of-court settlement.

The duke's representatives said he had no comment beyond the court statement.

In a letter to US judge Lewis A Kaplan, Ms Giuffre's lawyer David Boies wrote jointly with Prince Andrew's lawyers to say the pair had reached "a settlement in principle".

A statement included with the letter read: "The parties will file a stipulated dismissal upon Ms Giuffre's receipt of the settlement (the sum of which is not being disclosed).

It said the duke would make a "substantial donation to Ms Giuffre's charity in support of victims' rights".

Prince Andrew, the statement added, had "never intended to malign Ms Giuffre's character" and he recognised she had "suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks".

The duke also pledged to "demonstrate his regret for his association" with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein by supporting the "fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims".

He also commended the "bravery of Ms Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others".

Asked for comment on the latest development, Ms Giuffre's lawyer David Boies told the PA News agency: "I believe this event speaks for itself."

Ms Giuffre, now 38, claimed she was the victim of sex trafficking and abuse by financier Epstein from the age of 16. Epstein died in prison in 2019 while awaiting a sex trafficking trial.

She said part of the abuse saw her lent out to powerful men, including Prince Andrew, who is the third child of the Queen and ninth in line to the throne.

Ms Giuffre claimed the duke, 61, sexually assaulted her on three occasions - at Ghislaine Maxwell's home in London, in Epstein's mansion in New York and on Epstein's private island in the US Virgin Islands.

In an 2019 interview with BBC Newsnight, Prince Andrew said he had no memory of ever meeting Ms Giuffre and said her account of their London meeting and sex at a house in Belgravia "didn't happen".

In January, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled that the civil action over him could go ahead.

Buckingham Palace later announced that Prince Andrew's military titles and royal patronages had been returned to the Queen. A royal source said he would also stop using the title His Royal Highness in an official capacity.

Lisa Bloom, a lawyer representing several of Epstein's accusers, welcomed the duke's settlement as a "victory" for Ms Giuffre.

In a statement on Twitter on behalf of her clients, she wrote: "We hail Virginia's victory today. She has accomplished what no-one else could: getting Prince Andrew to stop his nonsense and side with sexual abuse victims. We salute Virginia's stunning courage."

In December last year, Maxwell, 60, was found guilty of recruiting and trafficking underage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein.

Last month, the former British socialite officially requested a retrial after a juror in the case told the media he used his own experience of being sexually abused to influence jurors reaching a verdict.


Prince Andrew settles US civil sex assault case

 

[DavidDetroit]

Settling sexual assault cases like that just doesn't get the job done--lets the alleged offender off with a slap on the wrist.
From a victim's perspective, I wouldn't want any to be reluctant to pursue justice.
Edit: wrong word. correct word: offender

 

[The Baron]

Surprise Surprise
He will be deemed morally guilty by most people and surely if he has done nothing wrong he should have fought the case

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Surprise Surprise
He will be deemed morally guilty by most people and surely if he has done nothing wrong he should have fought the case

That was my thought as soon as i heard the report if he had nothing to hide why not prove it in court.

 

[Clint]

Is that two lots of hush money now?

 

[Tanglefoot]

Up till now his strategy has been to try and undermine her character, so the about face and sympathy for the victims is a bit hollow.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Up till now his strategy has been to try and undermine her character, so the about face and sympathy for the victims is a bit hollow.

Spot on this is cringeworthy bearing in mind all the things that were said before -


The duke's representatives said he had no comment beyond the court statement.
It said the duke would make a "substantial donation to Ms Giuffre's charity in support of victims' rights".
Prince Andrew, the statement added, had "never intended to malign Ms Giuffre's character" and he recognised she had "suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks".
The duke also pledged to "demonstrate his regret for his association" with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein by supporting the "fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims".
He also commended the "bravery of Ms Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others".

Full article - Prince Andrew settles US civil sex assault case with Virginia Giuffre

 

[Clint]

I wonder if they'd have ever got Jimmy Saville to a court case he would have been able to buy his way out with other than of what he knew?
That Andrew is that hard faced you could chop sticks on it.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I wonder if they'd have ever got Jimmy Saville to a court case he would have been able to buy his way out with other than of what he knew?

He would have Fixed It

That Andrew is that hard faced you could chop sticks on it.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Who is paying this money apparently he isn't a rich bloke will mummy be bailing him out.

 

[The Baron]

According to The Sun he only earns £270,000 a year but lives a millionaire lifestyle????

 

[allotment_fox]

Not right in my mind this man should be made to face the music, and if guilty made to pay the price ad be put on the sex offenders register his wealth for large part will have been accumulated from the public purse

 

[Chippy_Tea]

According to The Sun he only earns £270,000 a year but lives a millionaire lifestyle????

A guy on 5 live said a few minutes ago he recently sold some property i assume he knew this day was coming and there was no way he was appearing in any court.

 

[DavidDetroit]

Are there any legitimate reasons why an innocent person would offer a settlement?
If I were rich, there is zero chance.
Reputation? No.
Make it go away? No.

 

[Clint]

He would have Fixed It

Yeah...a weekend camping with him and Garry Glitter in a one man tent.

 

[Leon103]

But the only outcome was a financial settlement. This was a civil case after all.

 

[DavidDetroit]

We have a messed up system. Under no situation should rape be a civil case. I'd say the same as murder being a civil case.
Lawyers and rich people.

 

[DavidDetroit]

The dude does have to live with himself and there actually isn't a harsher penalty.
Rotten on the inside, fake shiny on the out.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

But the only outcome was a financial settlement. This was a civil case after all.

If he was innocent surely he should have proved his innocence.

Proving a case
In most civil cases, the party or parties bringing the case forward need to prove it's more likely than not that whatever they are claiming is true.
This is known as 'the balance of probabilities' and is less strict than the 'beyond reasonable doubt' proof that's needed in criminal cases.

 

[Leon103]

If he was innocent surely he should have proved his innocence.

Proving a case
In most civil cases, the party or parties bringing the case forward need to prove it's more likely than not that whatever they are claiming is true.
This is known as 'the balance of probabilities' and is less strict than the 'beyond reasonable doubt' proof that's needed in criminal cases.

Would have cost him more. Most civil cases in America are settled out of court. I have no doubt there are conditions included such as no tv documentary etc.