(CNN)A weak assistant and an expert on unsuitable recollections testified for Ghislaine Maxwell’s defense on Thursday as her correct group obtained its first opportunity to call witnesses to the stand.
The weak assistant, Cimberly Espinosa, testified for valid below two hours in regards to the roughly six years she spent working for Maxwell at Jeffrey Epstein’s firm in Fresh York from 1996 to 2002. Her testimony mainly centered on her recollections of “Jane,” one in every of the four ladies people who testified Maxwell groomed her for sexual abuse when she used to be underage.
Jane perceived to be “potentially 18” when she met her, Espinosa stated, and Jane’s mother told staff that Jane used to be Epstein’s goddaughter. Espinosa testified that Epstein treated Jane correctly, as far as she would possibly peek.
Jane testified earlier in the trial Epstein sexually abused her — and that Maxwell at instances joined in on the abuse — each and each in Palm Sea hump, Florida, and The huge apple when Jane used to be 14, 15 and 16 years worn.
Espinosa also testified that Maxwell and Epstein were a “itsy-bitsy flirty” and perceived to be in a romantic relationship. In the early 2000s, though, she believed they’d stopped dating and were now no longer traveling to and from the residing of job together.

The assistant stated she revered Maxwell, who treated her moderately and properly, and he or she praised Epstein as beneficiant. She stated she’d by no design seen anything else to point out Maxwell or Epstein ever behaved inappropriately with underaged ladies.
The assistant’s testimony came as the defense started to recent its case in the intercourse trafficking conspiracy trial of Maxwell, Epstein’s shut confidante and longtime accomplice. The defense’s case is anticipated to closing valid about a days.
The prosecution rested its case on Friday after calling 24 witnesses across 10 days of testimony. Their case used to be highlighted by four ladies people who stated they were sexually abused by Epstein when they were below 18 and who stated Maxwell facilitated and normally participated in that abuse.
Prosecutors also launched photos of Maxwell and Epstein embracing and smiling for the digicam over time, in conjunction with loads of exhibiting her massaging his foot. The defense objected to exhibiting the jury these photos, however the prosecution insisted their shut relationship used to be central to the case, and the non-public agreed.
“Their relevance is self-apparent, given the contents of the photos,” prosecutor Alison Moe stated. “The connection between Maxwell and Epstein is central to this case.”
Protection attorneys relish argued Maxwell is being scapegoated for Epstein’s actions and relish attacked the recollections and motivations of the ladies people who inform they were abused.
Maxwell, 59, has pleaded no longer guilty to 6 federal expenses: intercourse trafficking of minors, enticing a minor to trek to seize in unlawful intercourse acts, transporting a minor with the intent to seize in criminal sexual advise and three counts of conspiracy.
Epstein, who pleaded guilty in 2008 to express prostitution expenses, used to be indicted on federal intercourse trafficking expenses in July 2019 however died by suicide in jail a month later. Maxwell used to be arrested a twelve months afterward.
Doctor explains science of memory
Dr. Elizabeth Loftus, a psychologist and professor at the College of California Irvine, testified about unsuitable recollections as piece of the defense’s strive and broadly undermine the real fact of the accusers’ testimony. She has beforehand testified for the defense in the intercourse assault trial of movie producer Harvey Weinstein and the abolish trial of steady property multi-millionaire Robert Durst.
She testified Thursday that people would possibly possibly even be exposed to misinformation about an match after the real fact and incorporate it into their memory, making it unsuitable.
“Even worrying experiences would possibly possibly even be subjected to post-match suggestion that can exaggerate, distort or alternate the memory,” Loftus stated.
She stated that external factors admire substance abuse, marijuana or in any other case were stumbled on in analysis to impair a particular person’s potential to bear a memory at the time of an match.
Loftus also testified that unsuitable recollections would possibly possibly even be expressed with a excessive diploma of self perception and emotion is no longer necessarily a trademark of credibility. “Emotion isn’t very any sing that you are facing an effective memory,” she stated.
Think rejects nameless defense witnesses
Three doubtless defense witnesses who wished to testify anonymously would possibly no longer be allowed to help out so, Think Alison Nathan ruled Thursday.
Earlier this week, a defense approved expert told the court that three defense witnesses requested to testify anonymously or below a pseudonym due to the they “would possibly possibly perchance earn a good deal of undesirable attention.” Think Nathan rejected that request on Thursday morning. She stated an insist expanding on that ruling will probably be posted to the docket later in the day.
Nathan also ruled the defense can no longer seek testimony from attorneys for 2 of the ladies people who testified that they were sexually abused whereas underage. Nonetheless, the defense will probably be allowed to call to the stand Robert Glassman, an approved expert for a third accuser who testified below the title “Jane,” to testify on a slim scenario connected to his client’s recordsdata of how her cooperation would affect her payout with the Epstein Victim Compensation Fund.