World News | Family of UK Socialite Maxwell Voices Faith in Her Innocence

London, Dec 30 (AP) Members of Ghislaine Maxwell's family say they still believe she is innocent after a New York jury found her guilty of luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by American millionaire Jeffrey Epstein.

In a statement issued late Wednesday, the Maxwell family said it would support the British socialite's efforts to appeal her conviction.

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“We believe firmly in our sister's innocence. We are very disappointed with the verdict,'' read the statement.

“We have already started the appeal tonight, and we believe that she will ultimately be vindicated.”

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The jury's verdict capped a month-long trial featuring sordid accounts of the sexual exploitation of girls as young as 14.

Four women testified that they were abused as teenagers in the 1990s and early 2000s at Epstein's homes in Florida, New York and New Mexico.

Jurors deliberated for five full days before finding Maxwell guilty of five of six counts. Each charge carries a maximum prison term of five to 40 years. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)