Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyers have requested a retrial, weeks after she was found guilty of recruiting and grooming teenage girls to be sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein. 

The 60-year-old, a former girlfriend of the paedophile billionaire, faces up to 65 years in prison after being convicted of sex trafficking for Epstein. 

But earlier this month, her legal team said there were ‘incontrovertible grounds’ for a new trial due to one of the juror’s possible failure to disclose beforehand that he was sexually abused as a child. 

It comes after the juror gave media interviews telling how he recounted his experiences during the jury’s deliberations, adding that it helped others on the panel understand things from the victim’s point of view. 

The revelation raised concerns that he may have failed to divulge it during the jury selection process. 

Prospective panellists were given questionnaires, which included: ‘Have you or a friend or family member ever been the victim of sexual harassment, sexual abuse or sexual assault?’ 

It also asked: ‘Witnesses in this case may testify claiming sexual abuse or sexual assault. Would you have any difficulty assessing the credibility of a witness claiming sexual assault or abuse just like you would any other witness?’ 

The juror said he did not remember being asked about abuse but insisted he would have answered all questions honestly. 

But following the reports, even the prosecutors asked Judge Alison Nathan to investigate the remarks. 

Maxwell’s team went further, submitting that they necessitated a new trial altogether. 

In a letter to the judge on Wednesday, her lawyer Bobbi C Sternheim wrote: ‘Today, counsel for Ghislaine Maxwell filed her motion for a new trial.’

The lawyer added: ‘We request that all submissions pertaining to juror no. 50 remain under seal until the court rules on the motion.’

Legal experts suggested Maxwell would not be guaranteed a new trial even if the juror did not disclose his abuse on the questionnaire. 

They noted that cases of juror dishonesty which led to verdicts being overturned generally involved jurors who deliberately lied to be selected. 

Epstein, who counted Prince Andrew among his many high-profile acquaintances, was arrested in July 2019 for sex trafficking girls as young as 14.  

He killed himself in a Manhattan jail a month later, while awaiting trial. 

The Duke of York has faced increasing scrutiny over his relationship with Epstein and Maxwell following her high-profile trial.  

He is also being sued by Virginia Giuffre, who claims that Epstein and Maxwell forced her into sex with the royal in London at age 17. He vehemently denies the allegations. 

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