The Duke of York has agreed to pay an undisclosed sum to Virginia Giuffre after agreeing to settle a sexual abuse lawsuit within the US out of courtroom.
In a press release, it was introduced that Andrew “intends to make a considerable donation to Ms Giuffre’s charity in help of sufferer’s rights”.
It additionally praised Giuffre’s “bravery” and added Andrew by no means meant to “malign” her character.
Giuffre was suing Andrew over allegations he sexually abused her more than two decades ago when she was 17, a minor beneath US legislation, after convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein trafficked her to England.
Tuesday’s settlement is just not an act of contrition. Andrew has at all times denied the allegations.
The event means the case will now not go to a jury trial and Andrew will not be questioned under oath – something which had been expected to happen sometime in the near future.
Within the courtroom papers, Andrew crucially stated he “regrets his affiliation with Epstein” – a stark distinction to his Newsnight interview in November 2019 during which he stated their relationship was “very helpful.”
Learn extra: Prince Andrew is finding sex abuse trial ‘really hard’, claims close friend
The courtroom assertion in full
“Virginia Giuffre and Prince Andrew have reached an out of courtroom settlement.
“The events will file a stipulated dismissal upon Ms Giuffre’s receipt of the settlement (the sum of which isn’t being disclosed).
“Prince Andrew has by no means supposed to malign Ms. Giuffre’s character, and he accepts that she has suffered as a longtime sufferer of abuse and and because of unfair public assaults.
“It’s identified that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked numerous younger women over a few years.
“Prince Andrew regrets his affiliation with Epstein and feedback the bravery Ms. Giuffre and different survivors in standing up for themselves and others.
“He pledges to display his remorse for affiliation with Epstein by supporting the struggle towards the evils of intercourse trafficking, and supporting its victims.”
The information marks a significant change by the rhetoric given in earlier courtroom paperwork, during which he demanded a “trial by jury”.
Final month the duke submitted 11 reasons why the case should be dismissed, together with that Giuffre’s claims have been “barred by the doctrine of consent” and by “her personal wrongful conduct”.
However in the identical courtroom doc, Andrew’s attorneys concluded: “Prince Andrew hereby calls for a trial by jury on all causes of motion asserted within the criticism.”
Representatives for the Duke of York stated he wouldn’t be increasing past the assertion filed in courtroom.
When requested for remark, Virginia Giuffre’s lawyer David Boies stated: “I imagine this occasion speaks for itself.”
Lawyer Lisa Bloom, who represents eight victims of Jeffrey Epstein, welcomed the settlement as a “victory” for Virginia Giuffre.
She wrote on Twitter: “My assertion on behalf of the 8 Jeffrey Epstein victims I signify:
“We hail Virginia’s victory at present. She has achieved what nobody else may: getting Prince Andrew to cease his nonsense and aspect with sexual abuse victims. We salute Virginia’s gorgeous braveness.”
In January Giuffre’s lawyer stated she wished to be “vindicated” by the legal process and was not motivated by reaching a “purely financial settlement”
The monetary phrases of the settlement, which have been introduced in a federal courtroom submitting in Manhattan, won’t be made public.
Giuffre was suing the duke within the US for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager.
Andrew has strenuously denied all allegations.
He was stripped of all his military titles and royal patronages in January after a US judge ruled his trial for sex offences could go ahead.
The case was set to go to trial after a decide threw out the duke’s movement to dismiss it in January.
Giufrre was suing the duke for damages in New York, claiming she was trafficked by notorious financier Jeffrey Epstein to have intercourse with the royal when she was 17, a minor beneath US legislation, on the London residence of disgraced British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell within the early 2000s.
