Prince Andrew shall be deposed by means of lawyers for his accuser on March 10 at a “impartial” region in London, The Telegraph is familiar with.
The Duke of York might be forced to make a press release beneath oath to attorneys representing Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who will probably be flying in from the united states to interview Andrew in particular person.
Sources with wisdom of the case advised The Telegraph that all sides agreed at the date after a lengthy back-and-forth over scheduling problems.
Ms Giuffre is suing the Duke in Ny over alleged sexual assault and battery in a civil case.
She alleges that she was trafficked as a teen to the Duke through convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, a chum of the Andrew’s from Oxford, and used to be subjected to unwanted sexual encounters with Andrew in London, New York and on Epstein’s private island in the Caribbean.
David Boies and Sigrid McCawley, of Boies Schiller Flexner, will first question Prince Andrew – in a grilling which is anticipated to remaining around days – ahead of interviewing Shukri Walker, a girl who’s speculated to have noticed the Duke and Ms Giuffre together at a nightclub twenty years ago, and Robert Ashton Olney, who used to be a royal equerry for Andrew.
Mr Boies, EIGHTY, a skilled interviewer with a name because the “biggest deposition-taker” in brand new American justice, has said he’s having a look forward to having a look the Duke in the eye.
David Boies and Sigrid McCawley will question Prince Andrew Credit: GETTY PHOTOGRAPHS/REUTERS
The Duke, who was stripped of his army titles and royal honorifics after US District Judge Lewis Kaplan ultimate month dominated to permit the case to go to trial, will be requested about his actions around the time of the three alleged assaults in 2001.
In a filing with the us District Court in Manhattan, Andrew, SIXTY ONE, admitted to meeting Epstein in or around 1999, but denied Ms Giuffre’s claim of sexual misconduct.
he’s additionally expected to face uncomfortable questions about his ties to Maxwell, who was convicted in December of luring underage victims to be abused by Epstein.
On Monday, Judge Kaplan signed 4 requests to courts in the UNITED KINGDOM and in Australia, the place Ms Giuffre and her family are living, requesting assistance in securing testimony.
In Australia, the requests had been to facilitate the taking of testimony of Mr Giuffre’s husband, Robert, and her psychologist, Judith Lightfoot.
The 38-year-antique alleged sufferer might be allowed to behavior her deposition by the use of video feed because of pandemic-related go back and forth difficulties.
A source as regards to the Duke on Friday night time expressed frustration that despite complying with the criminal process, Ms Giuffre had now not confirmed any details for her personal deposition.
The supply informed The Telegraph: “We agreed to voluntarily produce the Duke for a deposition on March 10. In Spite Of repeated requests, Ms. Giuffre still hasn’t dedicated to a date or location for her deposition.”
The Duke is being prepared for his interview by his UK-based legal group and advisors.
His disastrous efficiency on BBC’s Newsnight in November 2019 has prompted fears that he’s going to no longer carry out smartly under pressure.
US legal professional John Burke, who is lately working at Legis Chambers in London, said the Duke’s attorneys “have to be involved” in regards to the deposition process as he had already, very publicly, set out his personal narrative and if he deviated from it, could face a perjury fee.
“you’re beneath oath,” he said. “That person can ask you the rest they would like and also you remain topic to the trials and consequences of perjury.
“It’s no longer a procedure designed for people like Prince Andrew as a result of if (the Newsnight interview) is how he behaves in a controlled environment, his attorney will have to worry approximately what he might do in this surroundings.
“they cannot prevent it, they cannot unplug the light for the camera. you’ll be able to simplest register an objection you cannot in truth prevent the query from being requested. He can’t plead the 5Th (Amendment) or provide no comment answers.”
Mr Boies informed The Telegraph ultimate week: “We’re taking a look ahead to confronting Prince Andrew with his denials and attempts responsible Ms Giuffre for her personal abuse, both at the deposition and the trial.”
He confirmed in an unique interview that he wouldn’t depose Prince Andrew’s daughters, despite one being a potential alibi, nor his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, or The Queen.
Mrs McCawley, a handling spouse at Boies Schiller with over two decades at the storied litigation firm, in the meantime, has additionally received a name as a masterful interviewer.
She took several depositions from Maxwell throughout Ms Giuffre’s defamation swimsuit towards the British socialite in 2016.
At one element all the way through questioning, Maxwell is said to have flew into a rage after being asked whether or not Ms Giuffre used to be lying in regards to the abuse she is claimed to have suffered.
Maxwell’s answers formed the root of 2 perjury charges in opposition to her in a 2020 indictment.
Prince Andrew reserves the right to settle by offering a sum of money, even after any deposition is taken.
Mr Boies recommended it might be something they’d believe as lengthy as “you had a settlement that was sufficiently big to be, in impact, a vindication.”
The Duke’s deposition could be made public although he settles out of courtroom.
