Ghislaine Maxwell directed her driver to collect females he suspected were underage and transport them to Jeffrey Epstein's Palm Beach residence, a New York court heard Tuesday.
Juan Alessi, Epstein's maid, and driver stated that he was instructed to pick up an accuser identified only as Jane from her school and carry her to Ms. Maxwell.
In a New York courtroom, Ms. Maxwell is charged with trafficking kids, one of six counts against her.
Jane testified tearfully on Wednesday that she was sexually abused at the house by Ms. Maxwell and Epstein when she was just 14 years old.
Additionally, Mr. Alessi stated that he picked up Virginia Roberts Giuffre and drove her to the house when she was "approximately 14 or 15 years old." Ms. Giuffre claiMs. She was trafficked for sex by Epstein and had three encounters with the Duke of York. The Duke maintains his innocence.
Ms. Maxwell, a 59-year-old British socialite, has disputed charges of minor trafficking, but Mr. Alessi asserted that he picked up the young females on her behalf. The court heard that Ms. Maxwell and Epstein reportedly "constantly flew other girls" to the financier's Palm Beach estate.
Mr. Alessi, who worked for Epstein from 1991 to 2002, identified Ms. Maxwell as Epstein's lover, stating that she was with him "95 percent of the time" and that they spent "almost every weekend" in Palm Beach, arriving on a Thursday or Friday and departing on a Monday or Tuesday.
According to Mr. Alessi, Ms. Maxwell addressed herself as "the lady of the house."
When Mr. Alessi was asked to identify who else was on the property, he stated that his wife was also a staff employee and that "other girls were constantly flying to the house with Ms. Maxwell and Mr. Epstein." Mr. Alessi said he engaged with Ms. Maxwell on a "daily basis," adding that she referred to him as John even though his given name was Juan.
Mr. Alessi stated that he witnessed "hundreds" of topless women reclining around the pool during his time working for Epstein.
"There were numerous females," he explained. "The majority of them appeared to be in their late twenties or early thirties."
Ms. Maxwell, who appeared in court wearing a black rollneck shirt and a black face mask, seemed severe and stroked her arMs. In an attempt to warm up.
Before the session began, she spoke with her brother Kevin, who had come from the United Kingdom to New York as a show of solidarity.
On Wednesday night, he expressed "tremendous relief" at being allowed to meet his sister in person for the first time in over 500 days but lashed out at her incarceration conditions.
He stated that Ms. Maxwell was "looking reasonably well, despite the detention conditions, which are the subject of a formal complaint to the United Nations committee on arbitrary detention."
Mr. Alessi recalled a "hectic" routine inside courtroom 318, where he was frequently given only a few hours' notices that Epstein was flying in.
Mr. Alessi stated that "extensive preparations" were made, including changing the beds in all the bedrooms, preparing food, cleaning the automobiles, and ensuring that each vehicle was left with a $100 bill inside.
"It had to be impeccably clean. It was run in the manner of a five-star hotel," Mr. Alessi explained.
Ms. Maxwell, along with Epstein, has been charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl at the residence.
Mr. Alessi detailed his relationship with Epstein, stating that it evolved over time and that Ms. Maxwell eventually advised him to avoid eye contact with the financier and speak to him only when spoken to.
The trial is ongoing.
