Virginia Giuffre, sex trafficking survivor who accused UK's Prince Andrew, dies aged 41

VIRGINIA GIUFFRE, AN outspoken sex trafficking survivor who settled a sexual assault lawsuit against the UK’s Prince Andrew, has died aged 41.

She is understood to have died at her farm in Western Australia. Police are not treating her death as suspicious.

Police confirmed emergency services attended a property in the Perth suburb of Neergabby last night.

“Police and St John Western Australia attended and provided emergency first aid. Sadly, the 41-year-old woman was declared deceased at the scene,” a police spokeswoman said.

“The death is being investigated by Major Crime detectives; early indication is the death is not suspicious.” 

Giuffre was one of the most outspoken accusers of convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.

She alleged they trafficked her to Andrew when she was 17, a claim which Andrew has denied. 

‘Missed beyond measure’

Her family said in a statement that she was a “fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse”.

They described the “toll” of the abuse she faced.

“She was the light that lifted so many survivors. Despite all the adversity she faced in her life, she shone so bright. She will be missed beyond measure.”

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She is survived by her three children, whom the statement described as the “light of her life”.

Giuffre’s long-time publicist Dini von Mueffling said her client was “one of the most extraordinary human beings I have ever had the honour to know”.

“Deeply loving, wise, and funny, she was a beacon to other survivors and victims,” von Mueffling said.

“It was the privilege of a lifetime to represent her.”

Sigrid McCawley, a lawyer for Giuffre, said in a statement: “Her courage pushed me to fight harder, and her strength was awe-inspiring.

“The world has lost an amazing human being today. Rest in peace, my sweet angel.”

American-born Giuffre has lived in Australia for years and has become an advocate for sex trafficking survivors after emerging as a central figure in the prolonged downfall of disgraced paedophile financier Epstein.

She came forward publicly after the initial investigation ended in an 18-month Florida jail term for Epstein, who made a secret deal and was released in 2009.

In subsequent lawsuits, she said she was a spa attendant as a teen at Mar-a-Lago — US President Donald Trump’s Palm Beach club — when she was approached in 2000 by Maxwell.

She was hired as a masseuse for Epstein and was flown around the world for meetings with men at Epstein’s behest, including the UK’s Prince Andrew, while she was 17 and 18.

Andrew paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Giuffre, whom he claimed he had never met.