09 January 2024 , 17:36
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The death of a fashion model scout involved in a global sex abuse ring with close ties to Jeffrey Epstein is to be reinvestigated.
It comes as Prince Andrew was spotted leaving his home for the first time since Epstein legal documents - which name the disgraced royal - were unsealed, while it has been alleged that "major dysfunctions" of justice have taken place in relation to a separate investigation into the death of a French model scout suspected of being involved in Epstein's underage sex ring.
The late Jean-Luc Brunel was 74 when he was found hanging in the cell of his La Santé prison in February 2022. Following complaints by his lawyers, they claimed there had been major errors and demanded an "administrative investigation" into the scandal.
In a statement made to AFP, barrister Marianne Abgrall said: "Given the major dysfunctions of the entire criminal chain leading to the suicide of Jean-Luc Brunel [we have] contacted the Minister of Justice so that an inspection mission can be carried out by the Inspectorate General of Justice."
Brunel had been indicted in connection with his role in a global underage sex ring organised by the late American multi-billionaire Epstein, who committed suicide in 2019, while awaiting trial for numerous sex crimes. Others involved in the ring include Epstein’s ex-girlfriend, the British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, 62, who is currently in prison in the USA after being found guilty of sex trafficking.
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Prince Andrew, 63, was, like his friend Maxwell, a regular visitor to Epstein’s £8million mansion flat in Paris, where many of the worst crimes against girls are said to have taken place. In newly released court papers the exiled royal is named 67 times.
There is no suggestion that Andrew, or anyone else named in the court documents, had anything to do with Epstein's crimes or had any knowledge of them. But Virginia Giuffre is one of dozens of women who sued Epstein and claimed he abused them in his homes in Florida, New York, New Mexico and the US Virgin Islands. Giuffre claims Epstein pressured her to have sex with multiple men in his high-up social circles, including Andrew. The royal strenuously denied the claims made against him and subsequently settled a civil trial with Giuffre lodged against him in the US by paying her a reported £12million without any admission of liability.
The Duke of York, Virginia Giuffre, and Ghislaine Maxwell (PA)Just two days ago, it was claimed Andrew had "locked himself away" after being left reeling by recently unsealed claims relating to Epstein. A source told the Mirror the Duke "had no idea how to respond" and had not ventured out since allegations were made in the newly released Epstein files. They said: "He doesn't have the emotional bandwidth to deal with this. He has locked himself away in a room and has no idea how to respond. He's devastated."
Brunel was arrested in December 2020 by a police anti-paedophilia unit while trying to board a plane to Dakar, Senegal, telling detectives "I’m going on holiday". A French judicial enquiry into Brunel’s conduct had opened in August 2019, when prosecutors heard allegations that Brunel and the Queen’s second son shared a lover.
Virginia Roberts Giuffre, an American, had told lawyers she was employed as a "sex slave" when she was forced by Epstein to sleep with the Duke after being trafficked. Ms Roberts Giuffre has also said she had "sexual relations with Brunel on several occasions", between the ages of 16 and 19, according to legal papers filed in America and France. The rape of a minor is punishable by up to 15 years in prison in France, while aggravated sexual harassment comes with a three-year prison sentence and a fine equivalent to around £40,000.
Rapist and trafficker Jeffrey Epstein (PA)
Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in the vile sex ring (PA)Brunel, who also denied any wrongdoing, was being held in custody until a criminal trial. Brunel was also suspected of using his contacts in the fashion industry to provide victims to Epstein and his friends. He is said to have flown three sisters from a Paris housing estate to America so they could be abused by Epstein as "a birthday present".
Epstein – an old friend and business of associate of Brunel’s – committed suicide in his prison cell in New York on August 10 2019, while awaiting trial for a range of offences, including trafficking minors for sex, and multiple rapes. Among his alleged victims, it is claimed in court documents, were 12-year-old triplets from Paris.
Brunel was the founder of MC2, the model agency – one that prosecutors believe was used as as a cover for Epstein’s sex trafficking ring. Brunel started his career as a model scout, and has worked with celebrities including Jerry Hall, Sharon Stone, and Monica Bellucci. Evidence against Brunel came from a number of former models, who had waived their anonymity to make their allegations public.