Virginia Giuffre, the woman who accused Prince Andrew of sexual assault, has sadly passed away at the age of 41. In a statement released to NBC News on Friday, her family announced that Virginia had taken her own life at her farm in Western Australia, where she had been living for several years.
Her family expressed their immense sadness and shared that Virginia had been a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and trafficking. They described her as a courageous advocate in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking, and highlighted how her presence had positively impacted many survivors.
Ms Giuffre had filed a lawsuit against the Duke of York in August 2021, claiming that Andrew had engaged in sexual acts with her when she was 17 years old and that she had been trafficked by his friend, the deceased billionaire and paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. However, the duke has consistently denied these allegations and has not faced any criminal charges.
In March 2022, news emerged that Ms Giuffre and Andrew had reached a settlement outside of court, which included a significant donation to her charity focused on supporting victims’ rights.
Devastated by the loss, her family emphasized the toll that abuse had taken on her life, rendering it unbearable. They hope that her story will continue to bring attention to the fight against sexual abuse and trafficking and inspire others to stand up against it.
Source: https://news.sky.com/story/virginia-giuffre-who-accused-prince-andrew-of-sexual-assault-has-died-her-family-says-13355731
