Sydney:
Virginia Giuffre, who accused disgraced US financier Jeffrey Epstein and Britain’s Prince Andrew of sexual abuse, has taken her personal life at her dwelling in Australia, her household mentioned Saturday. Giuffre, a US and Australian citizen, was 41.
“It’s with totally damaged hearts that we announce that Virginia handed away final night time at her farm in Western Australia,” the household mentioned in an announcement offered to AFP by her agent.
“She misplaced her life to suicide, after being a lifelong sufferer of sexual abuse and intercourse trafficking.”
She had accused Epstein of utilizing her as a intercourse slave, and mentioned she had intercourse with Prince Andrew when she was 17 — a minor below US regulation — after assembly him via the American billionaire.
In 2019, Epstein took his personal life in a New York Metropolis jail cell, whereas awaiting his personal trial for intercourse crimes.
Prince Andrew repeatedly denied her allegation of sexual assault and prevented trial by paying a multimillion-dollar settlement. As a part of the deal, he reportedly gave cash to a charity for sex-trafficking victims.
“There aren’t any phrases that may categorical the grave loss we really feel at present with the passing of our candy Virginia,” Giuffre’s household mentioned, remembering her “unimaginable braveness and loving spirit”.
“In the long run, the toll of abuse is so heavy that it turned insufferable for Virginia to deal with its weight. We all know that she is with the angels.”
Giuffre left three youngsters, Christian, Noah, and Emily, who had been “the sunshine of her life”, her household mentioned.
Final month, she was hospitalised after a automotive she was in crashed with a college bus in a rural space north of the Western Australian capital Perth.
Giuffre initially posted an image to social media from her hospital mattress of her bruised face, saying she solely had 4 days to reside.
Her agent later mentioned Giuffre had not realised the submit had been revealed to the general public.
Western Australia police mentioned on the time it was a “minor crash” between a college bus carrying 29 youngsters and one other car.
Giuffre’s lawyer, Sigrid McCawley, mentioned Giuffre had been a “pricey buddy” and a champion for different victims.
“Her braveness pushed me to battle tougher, and her power was awe-inspiring.”
New York-based agent Dini von Mueffling described her shopper as “one of the vital extraordinary human beings”.
“Deeply loving, sensible, and humorous, she was a beacon to different survivors and victims,” she mentioned.
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