Prince Andrew, Epstein Accuser Virginia Giuffre Dies By Suicide

Sydney:

Virginia Giuffre, who had accused disgraced US financier Jeffrey Epstein and Britain’s Prince Andrew of abuse, has died by suicide in her Australia home, her family announced Saturday. Giuffre was a US and Australian citizen and was 41 years old.

“It is with totally shattered hearts that we are announcing Virginia died last night at her Western Australian farm,” the family said in a statement released to AFP by her agent.

“She died by suicide after being a lifelong victim of sex trafficking and sexual abuse.”

Giuffre had accused Epstein of exploiting her as a sex slave, and claimed she had sex with Prince Andrew when she was 17 — a minor under US law — after being introduced to him by the American billionaire.

In 2019, Epstein died in a New York City jail cell, awaiting his own trial on sex crimes.

Prince Andrew consistently denied her sexual assault claim and escaped trial by settling for a multimillion-dollar payment. Under the terms of the agreement, he reportedly donated to a sex-trafficking victims‘ charity.

“There are not words that can say how severe the loss we experience today with the death of our beloved Virginia,” Giuffre’s family said, remembering her “incredible bravery and loving heart.“.

“Eventually, the cost of abuse is so extreme that it became too much for Virginia to bear. We know that she‘s with angels.”

Western Australian police, who don’t release identities in such instances, reported emergency services provided first aid after being called Friday night that a 41-year-old woman had been discovered unresponsive at a residence in Neergabby, a suburb north of Perth.

“Unfortunately, the 41-year-old female was pronounced dead at the scene,” they reported in a statement.

Detectives were probing but “early indication is the death is not suspicious”, police added.

Giuffre was hospitalized after a car she was riding in collided with a school bus in late March, north of Perth.

Giuffre had first shared a photo on social media in her hospital bed showing her bruised face, writing she had only four days to live.

Her agent subsequently claimed Giuffre hadn’t known the picture was being posted to the general public.

Western Australia police at the time described it as a “minor crash” involving a school bus with 29 children and another car.

Giuffre had three children, Christian, Noah, and Emily, whom she had described as “the light of her life,“ her family released.

There had been trouble with her estranged husband, Robert, local reports say.

When she was alleged to have been charged with a violation of a family violence restraining order in February, her agent responded that Giuffre “looks forward to defending herself against his malicious claim.“.

Giuffe was “deeply concerned” for the well-being of her children who were in the custody of her husband, the agent added.

Giuffe‘s attorney, Sigrid McCawley, said she had been a “dear friend” and an advocate for other victims.

“Her courage inspired me to fight more fiercely, and her strength was breathtaking.”

New York-based agent Dini von Mueffling said her client was “one of the most extraordinary human beings”.

“Wisdom-filled, witty, and loving deeply, she was an inspiration to survivors and victims,” she said.