Prince Andrew and his lawyers have been granted access to a sealed document that his lawyers believe could end the sexual abuse case being brought by Virginia Guiffre.
Virginia Guiffre claimed that she was sexually assaulted by prince Andrew at three locations, including New York.
A US judge gave permission for the agreement between Ms. Guiffre and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein (who killed himself in August 2019 while awaiting trial) to be share with Prince Andrew’s lawyers.
Ms. Guiffre’s lawyers had made the offer to release the document but believe that it will be “irrelevant” to the civil case. Prince Andrew has repeatedly denied her allegations.
Prince Andrew’s lawyer argued at a previous hearing that Ms. Guiffre had entered into a “settlement agreement” with Epstein that would end her current legal action as the agreement “releases the duke and others from any and all potential liability”.
The lawyers have also said that MS. Guiffre agreed in 2009 not to sue anyone else in connection to Epstein’s crimes against her.
In a court document made on Wednesday, US district judge Loretta Preska granted Andrew’s lawyers permission to receive a copy of the confidential agreement between Epstein and Guiffre.
The Prince faces a deadline of 29 October to formally respond to Guiffre’s lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages.
Sources: BBC, The Guardian
Follow FiND iT here.
ALSO READ: Prince Andrew ‘could face second sex abuse lawsuit’
