Andrew to face civil sex abuse case

In a major blow for the royal the judge denied “in all respects” the Duke of York’s request to dismiss the case.

Ms Roberts Giuffre says the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein arranged for Andrew to sexually abuse her when she was a minor.

Andrew’s lawyers said the case should be thrown out, citing a 2009 deal she signed with Epstein but a New York judge has ruled that the claim could be heard.

Prince Andrew has consistently denied the allegations, stating that he did not participate in the sexual exploitation of minors or witness such behaviour.

The motion to dismiss the lawsuit was outlined in a 46-page decision by Judge Lewis A Kaplan of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

At a hearing on January 4, Andrew’s lawyers argued that a $US500,000 ($670,000) settlement Epstein and Ms Roberts Giuffre reached in 2009 should prevent her from suing him. But District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan said the settlement, made public earlier this month, is too vague to specifically protect Andrew from a lawsuit.

The deal with Epstein bars Ms Roberts Giuffre’s from pursuing litigation against Epstein and anyone who could be a “potential defendant.”

The prince’s lawyer, Andrew B. Brettler, seized on that phrase to say that the settlement protects Andrew. But the judge disagreed, saying the term is so expansive as to have almost no meaning.

Originally published as Prince Andrew sex abuse claims by Virginia Roberts Giuffre to proceed, judge rules