Don't Miss
Most Read
Trending on GB News
An actress who gave emotional evidence as an alleged victim of Ghislaine Maxwell has denied she can cry on demand because of her job.
The witness, who gave evidence under the pseudonym “Jane”, broke down in a federal court in the Southern District of New York on Wednesday as she said she wished the case would “all come to an end and I can move on with my life”.
She told jurors it was “too difficult emotionally” to talk to prosecutors about the case, adding: “I didn’t want everyone to know that was me so I did everything I had to do to stay out of it.”
Jane told the court she initially had a “fun and casual” relationship with Maxwell, but that changed after the British socialite gave instructions to her during sexual encounters with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Continuing her cross-examination of Jane, defence counsel Laura Menninger asked: “You are an actor who plays a fictional character for a living?”
“Yes,” Jane said.
“You are an actor who convincingly portrays someone else for a living.”
“Yes.”
“You have been an actor for a very long time.”
“Yes.”
“You are able to cry on command.”
“No, not always. That’s not always how it works.”
“But it’s a job you have trained for for a long time.”
“Yes.”
During her re-examination of the witness, assistant United States attorney Alison Moe asked Jane: “Has anyone told you what to say in this trial?”
“No,” she replied.
“Have I, or any prosecutor, told you what to say at this trial?”
“No.”
“Was it difficult to talk to the Government in your first meetings?”
“Yes absolutely… because I was sitting in a room full of strangers and telling them the most shameful, deepest secrets I have been carrying around with me my whole life.”
“Were you able to share the whole details of what happened to you?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because it was difficult. Too difficult emotionally, too difficult on every level.”
Asked if it became easier to talk over time, Jane said: “I started to feel like I could trust them and it didn’t feel quite as embarrassing. I wanted to stay out of it. I didn’t want everyone to know that was me so I did everything I had to do to stay out of it.”
“How strong is your memory of meeting Epstein and Maxwell?”
“Strong.”
“Why strong?”
“Because it was the beginning of when my life would change forever.”
“Who was giving you instructions when Jeffrey Epstein was abusing you while you were 14?”
“Well, the first time was Ghislaine.”
“Why does that stand out to you in your memory?”
“Because it was significant. It is when a fun, casual relationship I had with her just changed.”
Maxwell, 59, who has been held in a US jail since her arrest in July last year, denies all charges.
The trial continues.