Skip to content
Ghislaine Maxwell- Case Archive
Federal Criminal Trialtrial-daytrial-dayMaurene ComeyChristian R. EverdellJeffrey S. PagliucaJuan Patricio AlessiMichael DawsonGregory ParkinsoncrossdirectDay 5 - December 3, 2021The Court ruled on disputed search evidence as defense continued cross-examining Juan Patricio Alessi. Gregory Parkinson and Sergeant Michael Dawson described the 2005 Palm Beach search and authenticated exhibits.
← Day 4Federal Criminal TrialDay 6 →

Day 5 - December 3, 2021

Court Rules on Search Evidence; Alessi and Officers Testify

Judge Alison J. Nathan
14Proceedings
4Pages
3Witnesses
2,683Lines
Day 5 of 19
Appearing:
Maurene Comey Christian R. Everdell Jeffrey S. Pagliuca Juan Patricio Alessi Michael Dawson Gregory Parkinson

The Court ruled on disputed search evidence as defense continued cross-examining Juan Patricio Alessi. Gregory Parkinson and Sergeant Michael Dawson described the 2005 Palm Beach search and authenticated exhibits.

Full day summary

The Court ruled on disputed search evidence, allowing a sealed walk-through video and other exhibits with limiting measures while sustaining an objection to proposed testimony about an untested stain. It also declined to admit 2019 interior photographs of the New York house on the current record, permitting further briefing and possible additional testimony. Defense continued cross-examining former Epstein employee Juan Patricio Alessi about prior accounts, his household reporting structure, and a prior statement. Gregory Parkinson and Sergeant Michael Dawson then described the 2005 Palm Beach search and authenticated photographs and items. Cross-examination addressed what the search images could and could not establish about earlier years, room occupants, and Alessi's earlier burglary-investigation statement.

1. Parkinson and Maguire Evidence Hearings

Before the jury entered, the Court ruled on disputed search-related evidence, allowing some visual exhibits with safeguards, excluding proposed testimony about an untested stain, and reserving other issues for further foundation and review.

→
Procedural
Parkinson Evidence Admissibility Hearing
59 lines

The Court allowed disputed visual evidence with limiting instructions but excluded proposed testimony about an untested stain on a massage table.

Procedural
Sealed Video Presentation Protocol
8 lines

The Court set privacy safeguards for showing a sealed video on jurors' screens.

Procedural
Maguire Evidence Admissibility Hearing
61 lines

The Court conditionally reserved costume evidence and deferred a ruling on disputed 2019 interior townhouse photographs.

Highlights

Parkinson Evidence Admissibility HearingrulingThe Court overruled the defense objection to the walk-through video's brief display of a sexualized photograph near the master bedroom, subject to a limiting instruction.Parkinson Evidence Admissibility HearingrulingThe Court sustained the defense objection to proposed testimony about an untested stain on a massage table, citing the lay description and the timing of the 2005 search.

2. Juan Patricio Alessi — Cross (Continued)

Defense cross-examination of Juan Patricio Alessi continued with prior-testimony disputes, declaration questions, and Judge Nathan's rulings on the permitted scope of questioning.

→
Cross
Juan Patricio AlessiJeffrey S. Pagliuca
185 lines

Defense tested Alessi's prior theft accounts, finances, and memory of when he met Jane; the Court admitted deposition testimony and protected Jane's identity.

sidebar
Sidebar on Prohibited Testimony

The Court struck a statement and warned defense counsel to avoid another disclosure barred by its ruling.

Cross
Juan Patricio AlessiJeffrey S. Pagliuca
86 lines

Alessi attributed differences between his current and earlier testimony about Jane to confusion; Judge Nathan sustained an objection, and Alessi identified his signature on a 2020 declaration.

sidebar
Declaration Admissibility Sidebar

Judge Nathan allowed limited questioning about a declaration's reference to one pickup occasion while sustaining objections to other proposed inconsistencies.

Cross
Juan Patricio AlessiJeffrey S. Pagliuca
624 lines

Defense tested Alessi's prior statements and the limits of his observations about household authority, massage arrangements, and alleged distress at the Palm Beach house.

Highlights

Juan Patricio Alessi — CrossimpeachmentDefense confronted Alessi with his prior account of taking money from Mr. Epstein more than once; after the testimony was read, the Court admitted it into the record.

3. Gregory Parkinson — Testimony and Sealed Exhibit Proceedings

Gregory Parkinson authenticated 2005 search photographs, video, and a massage table from 358 El Brillo Way as the Court admitted exhibits and addressed sealing and relevance objections.

→
Direct
Gregory ParkinsonMaurene Comey
559 lines

Parkinson described the 2005 search of 358 El Brillo Way and authenticated photographs and a redacted walk-through video admitted by the Court.

Procedural
Sealed Exhibit Admission
28 lines

The Court admitted Government's Exhibits 243 through 250 under seal without objection.

Direct
Gregory ParkinsonMaurene Comey
117 lines

Parkinson authenticated additional photographs from the 2005 search of 358 El Brillo Way; the Court admitted several exhibit groups, including images of the second floor and master-bedroom area.

Procedural
Sealed Exhibit Proceedings
110 lines

Judge Nathan required a public redacted video version and sustained a foundation objection to later interior photographs, while allowing further briefing.

Direct
Gregory ParkinsonMaurene Comey
145 lines

Parkinson authenticated search photographs and identified a massage table recovered from 358 El Brillo Way; the Court admitted the table and related exhibits, including several under seal.

Cross
Gregory ParkinsonChristian R. Everdell
383 lines

Defense highlighted that Parkinson's 2005 search images could not establish earlier conditions or room occupants at the Palm Beach residence.

Highlights

Gregory Parkinson — Directtestimony highlightParkinson described his role in the October 20, 2005 warrant search, including a protective sweep, pre-search video, photographs, evidence collection, and a final walk-through.Sealed Exhibit ProceedingsrulingJudge Nathan sustained the defense objection to the interior photographs on the current record because no witness had tied the later images of movable items to the residence as Jane saw it.Sealed Exhibit Proceedings“I won't allow it in simply based on her description of what it looked like then.”— Alison J. NathanJudge Nathan stated the basis for sustaining the objection to the later interior photographs on the current record.Gregory Parkinson — Crosstestimony highlightParkinson said the 2005 video and photographs could not establish what the residence looked like in the mid-1990s or earlier; defense used that limitation to distinguish the search images from earlier periods.

4. Michael Dawson — Direct/Cross

Sergeant Michael Dawson identified items recovered during the 2005 search of Jeffrey Epstein's Palm Beach residence and was questioned on cross-examination about a 2003 burglary investigation involving Juan Alessi.

→
Direct
Michael DawsonMaurene Comey
98 lines

Sergeant Dawson described the 2005 search of Jeffrey Epstein's Palm Beach residence, and the Court admitted several related exhibits; he could not fully confirm the identity of later-shown message pads.

Cross
Michael DawsonChristian R. Everdell
154 lines

Judge Nathan allowed questioning about Juan Alessi's prior burglary statement, and Dawson confirmed the 2003 investigation after refreshing his recollection.

Highlights

Michael Dawson — Crosstestimony highlightAfter reviewing a document to refresh his recollection, Dawson confirmed his involvement in the 2003 burglary investigation and agreed that Juan Alessi described entering Jeffrey Epstein's residence on two occasions and taking money.
← Day 4Federal Criminal TrialDay 6 →