Prince Andrew demands trial by jury, denies sex assault claims

Prince Andrew is demanding a jury trial while formally denying allegations he sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre when she was a teenager, according to a report by Bloomberg. 

Giuffre is suing Andrew in a U.S. court. She alleges that disgraced financier and sex crimes offender Jeffrey Epstein, who hung himself in a prison trial while awaiting further charges, lent her to Andrew to be sexually assaulted.

The prince has long denied the charges, but his lawyers laid out his arguments Wednesday in an 11-page document, according to Sky News. 

Andrew’s lawyers are currently seeking witness accounts from Giuffre’s husband, Robert Giuffre, and her psychologist, Judith Lightfoot. Andrew’s lawyers are making the argument that Virginia Giuffre “may suffer from false memories,” an allegation they will discuss with her psychologist. 

Her lawyers are seeking witness accounts from Andrew’s former assistant, Robert Olney, and a woman, Shukri Walker, who alleges that she saw Andrew and Virginia Giuffre together in the time consistent with the sexual abuse allegations against him.

Earlier this month, Andrew returned his military affiliations to Queen Elizabeth II, and he was stripped of his public duties. 

The move came after more than 150 veterans called on the queen to remove Andrew’s titles because of his ties to Epstein.