Police to Review Interaction with Virginia Giuffre Before Her Death
Police in Western Australia have agreed to conduct a review of their interactions with Virginia Giuffre, one of the most prominent victims of the disgraced US financier Jeffrey Epstein, in the period leading up to her death by suicide a year ago.
Giuffre’s brother and sister-in-law, Sky and Amanda Roberts, informed ABC radio on Wednesday morning that they had submitted letters to both the state coroner and the police, requesting an investigation into how police managed a domestic violence dispute involving Giuffre before she died on her Western Australian farm last April at the age of 41.
Although American by nationality, Giuffre had resided in Australia for several years. She was involved in a dispute with a former partner prior to her death.
Police Commissioner Confirms Review Underway
The state’s police commissioner, Col Blanch, confirmed during a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday that police had received correspondence from Giuffre’s family and were undertaking a review.
Commissioner Blanch stated he was not yet aware of the specifics of police response to Giuffre’s case, noting that police respond to over 100,000 family violence incidents annually, but had initiated the review to ascertain the facts.
“The coroner can also choose to do an investigation, as could the ombudsman,”
he added.
Family Seeks Clarity on Police Response
Sky and Amanda Roberts emphasized that they were not disputing the circumstances of Giuffre’s death or contesting that it was a suicide. Their focus was on determining whether any internal failures occurred prior to her death.
“We’re really asking for a thorough review of the process [about] what happened when Virginia went to the police station on multiple occasions,” Amanda said. “Where [are] those reports, and why did the police not continue to follow up?
“There’s a lot of things that happened before Virginia ultimately made that decision.”
Amanda noted that the coroner’s court had responded with condolences to their request for an investigation but had not yet committed to a formal inquiry.
Support from Researchers and Family Violence Organisations
A number of researchers and practitioners from Australian universities and family violence organisations have expressed support for the family’s request. They also wrote to the coroner urging an inquest, arguing that the case raises broader issues related to domestic and family violence.
Sky said he appreciated the group’s efforts and their recognition that “this is entirely way too common” and such an investigation could help “thousands”.
“That’s what Virginia would want … a thorough investigation into the [systemic] failures in Australia, here in the United States, across the UK,”
he added.
“I wholeheartedly believe that if the police had done a thorough investigation, that Virginia would still be here.”
Background on Virginia Giuffre’s Allegations Against Epstein and Associates
Virginia Giuffre was among the most vocal victims of Jeffrey Epstein. She alleged that she was groomed and sexually abused by Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell beginning in her teenage years. She also accused others of involvement.
In a 2009 civil lawsuit against Epstein, filed under the pseudonym Jane Doe 102, Giuffre alleged that her duties included being “sexually exploited by Epstein’s adult male peers including royalty.” The case was settled before trial.
In 2021, Giuffre filed a lawsuit against Prince Andrew in federal court in New York, alleging he sexually assaulted her on three occasions when she was 17. Prince Andrew has consistently and strongly denied the allegations. The case was settled in 2022 for an undisclosed sum.
Ghislaine Maxwell, who has maintained her innocence, was convicted in 2021 for sex trafficking related charges.
Estate Administration Following Giuffre’s Death
Following Giuffre’s death, an interim administrator was appointed to manage her estate, as she died without a valid will. Her sons, Christian, aged 19, and Noah, aged 18, are involved in the estate matters.
