Ghislaine Maxwell has formally denied grooming and sexually abusing children with her pedophile ex-boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein.

Appearing at a bail hearing Tuesday, the 58 year-old former socialite said: ‘Not guilty your honor’ when asked how she wished to plead to an indictment of offenses against her.

Maxwell was heard speaking in a cut-glass English accent in Tuesday’s hearing, which saw appear via video link to a New York court from Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Correctional Center. She said ‘Good afternoon, your honor’ after being addressed by US District Judge Alison Nathan at the start of the hearing.

Maxwell has so far only made polite statements towards the judge during the hearing, saying ‘Thank you, your honor’ and ‘I appreciate it’ after having technical aspects of proceedings explained to her. She is seeking bail, with Maxwell’s millionaire sisters offering to put up $5million in return for the suspected pedophile’s release.

Journalists and members of the public were allowed to dial in to a telephone line which broadcast the hearing live, with 60 journalists also allowed to attend court and watch proceedings via a video screen.

Maxwell is accused of grooming and helping ex-boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse three girls as young as 14 between 1994 and 1997. The abuse is said to have taken place in the United States and United Kingdom.

Maxwell – a French-born British socialite – appeared for arraignment 11 months after Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan courthouse last August aged 66.

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