Virginia Giuffre, who claimed to have been trafficked for sex with Prince Andrew by billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, was cremated in a funeral service held in Perth, Australia
A funeral has been held in private for Virginia Giuffre who claimed she was trafficked for sex with Prince Andrew by billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Police said Ms Giuffre died on her farm in Neergabby, about 80km north of Perth, in April in circumstances that were not deemed suspicious. She was reportedly cremated in recent days at Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park in Padbury. Following her death, her family said in a statement Ms Giuffre was a “fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse” but that the “toll of abuse… became unbearable”.
“She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking,” they said. The statement added: “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. Despite all the adversity she faced in her life, she shone so bright. She will be missed beyond measure.” She is survived by her three children, whom the statement described as the “light of her life.”
The West Australian reported today that a funeral service had taken place for Ms Giuffre, and was understood to have been held privately and not publicly advertised.
Ms Giuffre was one of the most outspoken accusers of convicted sex offenders Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell. She alleged they trafficked her to the Duke of York when she was 17, a claim which Andrew has vehemently denied. The duke paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Ms Giuffre, whom he said he had never met.
Ms Giuffre died at her farm in Western Australia with police confirming emergency services received reports of an unresponsive woman at the property in the Perth suburb of Neergabby.
“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 at the time. “The death is being investigated by Major Crime detectives; early indication is the death is not suspicious.”
Ms 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,” Ms von Mueffling said. “It was the privilege of a lifetime to represent her.”
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