Espinosa said, when Jane appeared to be “probably 18”, and Jane’s mother told the staff that Jane was Epstein’s granddaughter. Espinosa testified that Epstein treated Jane well as far as she could see.
Jane testified at the first trial that Epstein sexually abused her—and Maxwell became involved in the abuse several times—in both Palm Beach, Florida, and Manhattan when Jane was 14, 15, and 16 years old.
Espinosa also testified that Maxwell and Epstein were a “little mess” and appeared to be in a romantic relationship. In the early 2000s, however, they believed they had stopped dating and were no longer traveling to and from the office together.
The assistant said she respected Maxwell, who treated her fairly and well, and praised Epstein as generous. She said she never saw anything to suggest Maxwell or Epstein treated underage girls inappropriately.
Judge Alison Nathan said she expects a final argument to take place on Monday, after which the case will go to a jury.
This would give the jury two full days to deliberate before the Christmas break.
Prosecutors presented photos of Maxwell and Epstein embracing and smiling for the camera, which showed several people massaging their feet. The defense objected to showing these photos to the jury, but the prosecution insisted that their close relationship was at the center of the case, and the judge agreed.
“Given the content of the photographs, their relevance is self-evident,” said prosecutor Alison Moe. “The relationship between Maxwell and Epstein is at the heart of the matter.”
Defense lawyers have argued that Maxwell is being made a scapegoat for Epstein’s actions and has attacked the memories and motivations of the women who they say were abused.
Maxwell, 59, has pleaded not guilty to six federal charges: sex trafficking of minors, enticing a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, with intent to engage a minor in criminal sexual activity. Three cases of conspiracies and conspiracy.
Doctor explains the science of memory
Elizabeth Loftus, a psychologist and professor at the University of California, Irvine, testified about perjury as part of the defense’s effort to massively undermine the truth of the testimonies’ testimony. She testified Thursday that humans can be exposed to false information about an event after the fact and incorporate it into their memory, making it inaccurate.
“Even traumatic experiences can be subject to post-event suggestion that the memory may be exaggerated, distorted or altered,” Loftus said.
She said that external factors such as substance abuse, marijuana or otherwise have been found in studies to impair a person’s ability to form a memory at the time of an event.
She testified that false memories can be expressed with a high degree of confidence and that emotion is not necessarily an indicator of credibility. “Feeling is no guarantee that you are dealing with an authentic memory,” she said.
During the cross-examination on Thursday, when she was asked about her motives and the suggestion that she was taking advantage of criminal defendants, she was a little nervous at times. She turned her head and spoke straight to the jury, when asked whether her work and the media attention she got from testifying for famous and high-profile defendants. She looked at the jury and said, “I won’t put it that way.”
Loftus said he has testified only once for the prosecution, nearly 300 times he has given expert testimony since the 1970s.
At cross-examination, prosecutor Lara Pomerantz asked Loftus about a book she had written called “Witnesses for the Defense.”
Pomerantz read a brief excerpt from the book, which said, “Should psychologists in court act as defense counsel or impartial teachers? My answer to that question, if I’m being completely honest, is both.” ”
Loftus said the quote was out of context and that no further inquiries were made on the subject.
Judge dismisses anonymous defense witnesses
Three potential defense witnesses who wanted to testify anonymously would not be allowed to do so, the judge ruled Thursday.
Judge Nathan rejected that request. She said an order detailing that decision would be posted to the docket later in the day.
CNN’s Cara Scannell contributed to this report.
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