BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaGhislaine Maxwell appeals sex abuse convictionPublished13 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsJeffrey Epstein deathImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2005By Mike WendlingBBC NewsLawyers for Ghislaine Maxwell have argued that she should be set free under the terms of a previous deal with federal prosecutors.Maxwell, 62, was found guilty of helping disgraced financier Jeffery Epstein sexually abuse young girls. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2022. Her lawyer, Diane Fabi Samson, told a court in New York on Tuesday that the British socialite was covered by a previous deal with prosecutors.But US government attorneys say that deal, which saw her boyfriend Epstein serve a light sentence for sex crimes, should not allow Maxwell to walk free.Maxwell’s appeal does not relate to the facts laid out at her trial but instead on the legal issues surrounding the agreement struck nearly 20 years ago.The crimes of Epstein, who mixed with some of the world’s most famous people, were first reported in the media in 2005.In 2008, he made a deal with federal prosecutors that allowed him to plead guilty to state charges in Florida of soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution and served 13 months in prison. As part of his plea agreement, which was later criticised by a Justice Department internal report, prosecutors agreed not to pursue his alleged co-conspirators.Following numerous lawsuits, Epstein was arrested again in 2019 in a federal case in New York. He was found dead in his jail cell before he could be tried on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide.During Tuesday’s hearing, Ms Fabi Samson called the Florida plea deal “weird” and “unusual” but argued that it should have halted any further action against Maxwell. Prosecutors, however, have called the defence arguments “cursory and undeveloped” and say that the deal has no bearing on Maxwell’s case.During the hearing they argued that the agreement was limited to the Florida district where Epstein pleaded guilty. Maxwell was convicted in New York, where Tuesday’s appeal hearing was held.Throughout the course of Maxwell’s 2022 trial, four women testified that they had been abused as minors at Epstein’s homes in Florida, New York, New Mexico and the Virgin Islands.They recounted how Maxwell had talked them into giving Epstein massages which turned sexual, luring them with gifts and promises about how Epstein could use his money and connections to help them.During her trial, a judge rejected attempts to throw out the case, including an argument by Maxwell’s lawyers that a juror had failed to inform the court that he had been abused as a child.The judge also rejected arguments that Maxwell had not been allowed to prepare adequately for her trial, and that prosecutors had waited too long to bring their case against her.The appeals court judgement will be handed down at a later date.Outside the court, Maxwell’s lawyers told the reporters that they were “cautiously optimistic” about their prospects of winning the appeal.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, Victims: ‘We still want answers from Maxwell’Related TopicsJeffrey Epstein deathGhislaine MaxwellJeffrey EpsteinUnited StatesMore on this storyThe story of Ghislaine Maxwell’s downfallPublished28 June 2022’We still want answers from Ghislaine Maxwell’Published28 June 2022Top StoriesNo 10 says Tory donor’s alleged comments about Abbott were racistPublished7 minutes agoBBC report into treatment of Gaza medics ‘very disturbing’ – CameronPublished3 hours agoGaza medics tell BBC that Israeli troops beat and humiliated themPublished16 hours agoFeaturesThe gangsters and rebels jostling over power in HaitiCan royals move on from Kate photo media storm?The Ukrainian sea drones hunting Russian warshipsHow the miners’ strike changed the role of womenMeet the pop star who brought some cheek to the Brit AwardsWhat is TikTok and could the US ban it?’We don’t feel the joy of Ramadan in Rafah’ Video’We don’t feel the joy of Ramadan in Rafah’Schoolboy recounts daring escape from Nigerian kidnap gangWhen wind turbine blades get old what’s next?Elsewhere on the BBCThe powerful emotional impact of Pink Floyd’s musicShine On You Crazy Diamond has helped people through their hardest timesAttributionSoundsFrom the largest ship to disasters on deck…A closer look at times when cruise ships have caused commotionAttributioniPlayer’I was mad for stuff but I didn’t realise I wasn’t happy’Stuart Mitchell’s search for happiness will make us all question the true cost of livingAttributionSoundsMisled with the promise of a home…Panorama investigates the mobile home swindleAttributioniPlayerMost Read1Prince William attends Thomas Kingston’s funeral2Warning after cat falls into Japan chemical vat3No 10 says Tory donor’s alleged comments were racist4Ashes and 35 bodies removed from funeral home5NHS England to stop prescribing puberty blockers6Andrew Tate and brother can be extradited to UK7Can royals move on from Kate photo media storm?8Biden to send new $300m weapons package to Ukraine9Ukraine-based groups claim raids into Russia10Smith-Neale suspended for allegedly punching opponentAttributionSport

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