GHISLAINE Maxwell's lawyers have warned her ...life is on the line... as they beg for more time to find witnesses in her sex trafficking trial. The second day of the British socialite's defence got off to a rocky start when it emerged one of her witnesses had refused to respond to a subpoena, another said they would take the fifth and a third was not called.
ReutersGhislaine Maxwell confers with her lawyer during the trial '/ ' 
GettyGhislaine Maxwell is accused of taking part in Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking ring \- claims she denies '/ ' 
APThe British socialite is said to be ...too fragile' to testify '/ ' The previous night, Maxwell's lawyers had said they planned to call three women called Eva, Kelly and Michelle \- but their plans fell apart before the jury were even brought in. Maxwell's lawyer Laura Menninger told the court the witness called Kelly had ...refused... to respond to their subpoena which they had issued two-and-a-half weeks ago. On day 12 of the trial, Maxwell, 59, is now trying to have an 81-year-old pub owner from England fly over to bolster her case at the 11th hour. The defence has confirmed it will call three witnesses to the stand today \- two law enforcement agents and Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend, Eva Dubin. But Ms Menninger begged Judge Alison Nathan for more time to find witnesses \- claiming Maxwell's ...life is on the line.... She told the court: ...I understand that your honour runs a tight ship. 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Christian Everdell, one of Maxwell's lawyers, said they planned to call the 81-year-old owner of the Nag's Head pub in London \- over the road from a house Maxwell had. Mr Everdell said the man knew the previous owners of Maxwell's home and could verify the heiress didn't live there until 1997 when she bought the place. The defence lawyers hope this testimony will refute evidence from accuser ...Kate... that she was lured to the London home by Maxwell before 1997. Mr Everdell said it was a ...critical issue... \- but the pub owner could not be there until Monday at the earliest. Prosecutor Maurene Comey said the defence had had an ...extraordinary amount of time... to prepare for their case and that it was not appropriate to introduce a new witness at this stage. Another problematic witness was one who was going to take the fifth \- meaning she would refuse to comment if she appeared in court. And a British man called Alexander Hamilton had been due to give evidence for Maxwell via video link to claim that the accuser ...Kate... told him that the Epstein case ...fell into my lap.... But Maxwell's lawyer Bobbi Sternheim said Hamilton has tested positive for Covid and the logistics of arranging for a remote testimony were too complicated. Judge Nathan told the court: ...Needless to say there's a pandemic. We don't want to unnecessarily delay. You have your witnesses, or you rest.... ...TOO FRAGILE' Maxwell is unlikely to testify in her own trial — but her lawyers had promised sensational revelations in their bid to clear her. She is said to be "too fragile" to take the witness stand. Instead, her legal team is focusing on pulling apart the testimony of the four accusers who claim she served them up for multi-millionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. It had lined up 35 witnesses, including a false memory expert, to support her case at her trial in New York. They are said to be preparing to produce evidence that Maxwell could not have been present during some of the accusations of wrongdoing. A source said: "The defence case will be shocking. There will be some very surprising revelations." Her spokesman said: "Ghislaine Maxwell is unlikely to testify over serious worries she is too fragile and will not be able to acquit herself properly." Her family has complained she is not being fed correctly and shackled to and from court. A friend said: "There are significant concerns about her health." Maxwell denies six charges linked to Epstein's sex trafficking ring. The prosecution have called the Brit heiress a ...dangerous predator... alleging she and Epstein \- who she dated in the 1990s \- were "partners in crime". Maxwell, daughter of disgraced newspaper mogul Robert Maxwell, is alleged to have snared girls as young as 14 into a ...nightmare... after promising them ...the world.... She is accused of walking girls into Epstein's lair where she watched as he molested them \- and sometimes even joined in. She denies the allegations. ...PARTNERS IN CRIME' In a court filing last Sunday, lawyers for the British socialite confirmed their intention to call the large number of witnesses — 11 more than the prosecution. Her lawyers have scrambled to put together a line-up after the prosecution rested their case two weeks earlier than anticipated. In a letter to Judge Nathan, Maxwell's lead lawyer Bobbi Sternheim requested three witnesses be granted the right to testify anonymously — after the four accusers in the case were allowed to give evidence using pseudonyms. Meanwhile, just a small portion of Maxwell's "little black book" — with the contact details for thousands of people including Prince Andrew — will be released publicly. Only a few pages are at issue in the case and the prosecution agreed that the book can be used "for a limited purpose". Convicted sex offender Epstein killed himself while awaiting trial for further sex trafficking charges in August 2019. Maxwell also faces two other charges of perjury over allegations she lied in a deposition in a separate civil suit, but these will be tried separately. She was arrested in July 2020 \- and has been held in prison ever since as she was deemed a flight risk. 
PAMaxwell dated Epstein in the 1990s. The prosecution allege she was the sex trafficker's ...partner in crime' '/ ' 
ReutersMaxwell watches as a witness testifies at her trial in New York '/ ' The Charges GHISLAINE Maxwell faces six charges over her alleged involvement with Jeffrey Epstein: Conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts Enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex Conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity Transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity Sex trafficking conspiracy Sex trafficking of a minor We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun news desk? Email us at exclusive@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4104. You can WhatsApp us on 07423 720 250. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours. Click here to get The Sun newspaper delivered for FREE for the next six weeks. Most read in News UNDER FIRE What to know about Judge Michelle Odinet 'SHOPPING CART KILLER' 'Serial killer' who moves bodies in Target cart is probed as 4 slain IN COLD BLOOD Mexican actress shot dead while waiting to pick up her son, 11, from football TIKTOK THREAT Warning over challenge that urges kids to bring WEAPONS to school tomorrow CASHFLOW Five stimulus check payment programs to replace the monthly $300 child tax credit WE WANT JUSTICE Grieving dad of model's friend wants three suspects hit with MURDER charges Source:
