Ghislaine Maxwell jury must work through new year’s holiday if no verdict

Ghislaine Maxwell (Jim James/PA)

Jurors deliberating the fate of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell at her sex trafficking trial have been told they would have to work through the new year’s holiday after they inquired about that possibility – the latest sign that a verdict was not near in the month-long trial.

On Tuesday, US District Judge Alison J Nathan cited an “astronomical spike” in the number of coronavirus cases in New York City as she explained to lawyers out of the jury’s presence why she was asking jurors to work at least an extra hour each day and every day through the week.