Virginia Giuffre's lawyer never thought Epstein accuser would take her own life
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Virginia Giuffre's lawyer has said she never feared the sex abuse survivor would take her own life.
Sigrid McCawley fought back tears in a 60 Minutes interview on Sunday night as she struggled to come to terms with her client's suicide.
She is the second of Giuffre's lawyers to say there were no signs the Epstein accuser wanted to end her life in the weeks leading up to her death.
Her lawyer, Karrie Louden, claimed there were 'big question marks' over her death.
Giuffre, who settled a sexual assault lawsuit against Prince Andrew, was found dead at her home in Western Australia on April 25.
Her family said she died after being a 'lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking', with the 'toll of abuse' becoming
Giuffre's attorney McCawley, has now revealed her shock and devastation at the sudden suicide, saying she reacted with 'overwhelming surprise and disbelief. True disbelief.'
She told CBS 60 Minutes: 'It took me several hours to even come to terms with the fact that that was real.
She was just a dear person in my life. And I think that the world will not be the same without her. It just won't be.'
When asked if she was concerned Virginia would take her own life, she responded, 'I did not fear that'.
The lawyer added: 'Virginia is always someone to rally. So every time I talk to her, she could find the sunny side of something.
'That's why I think that the disbelief has been so strong.
'I think that while Virginia could face many demons in her life and many villains, that moment of deprivation, I think, was something more than she could handle.'
The pair were close friends as well as working in a working relationship.
McCawley emotionally recalled when she realised Giuffre valued her as more than her lawyer.
'I used to say that we had broken through the lawyer-client line because she would sign her emails, 'I love you Siggy',' she said.
Then less than a month before her death, Giuffre posted on Instagram that she had been in a road accident and had four days to live due to 'kidney renal failure.
This led McCawley to be concerned about her physical health.
Western Australia Police said they received a report of a 'minor crash' and that there were 'no reported injuries as a result'.
McCawley's interview came after Giuffre's dad Sky Roberts, said there was 'no way' Ms Giuffre died by suicide.
He alleged to Piers Morgan Uncensored at the beginning of this mouth that there was foul play involved, adding: 'For them to say that she committed suicide, there's no way she did that. Somebody got to her.
'I don't think she committed suicide.'
Giuffre was one of the most outspoken accusers of convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell.
She alleged they trafficked her to Prince Andrew when she was 17, a claim which he has denied.
Giuffre sued him for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was 17 after she was trafficked by paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The Duke paid millions to settle the civil sexual assault case, which he said he had never met.
McCawley referred to these legal battles when praising Giuffre's legacy.
She said: 'She was just remarkable. More Trending
'She has left us with a feeling that irrespective of whether you're a president, a politician, a billionaire or a prince, you can be held accountable. You are not above the law.'
'She put Epstein in prison. She put Maxwell in prison.
'She had Prince Andrew stripped of his titles.
'Her words, her actions were incredible, and they started a movement of change.'
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: Virginia Giuffre's heartbreaking final letter released by her family
MORE: Australian activist suggests Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Giuffre was killed
MORE: Virginia Giuffre's death is 'tragic chance for Andrew to reveal all on Epstein'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
14 hours ago
- Metro
Bridgerton star fights off prolific phone thief as crowds watch on
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Bridgerton actress Genevieve Chenneour bravely defended herself after being targeted by a prolific London criminal while getting lunch. The 27-year-old star's real-life drama was thoroughly modern as she fought off a phone thief in Joe & the Juice. Chenneour, who plays Clara Livingston in Netflix's beloved show, was waiting for her order at the chain cafe on Kensington High Street, London. The thief, who the Daily Mail identified as Zacariah Boulares, 18, quietly snuck up behind her and grabbed her phone, which was placed on the counter. Immediately, Chenneour sprang into action as she spun around and grabbed his arm while another man came to her aid. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. CCTV footage shows her freeing her phone from his grasp as she pushes him to the ground and fights back against the hooded criminal. In court on May 29, Boulares pleaded guilty to stealing her phone as well as assaulting another customer. The actress previously told the Mail: 'They didn't expect me to stand up for myself – but I did.' 'I was left with a concussion just before the Screen Actors Guild Awards and since then, I've felt constantly on edge,' she shared. 'Even my dog was traumatised – now, if anyone touches me, he panics and tries to protect me. Getting a coffee shouldn't be something you need your wits about you for.' Chenneour added that she was thankful to the staff in store who were 'incredible' during the incident, and she has returned to see since. She retrained as an actress after winning an Olympic scholarship to train for Team GB's artistic swimming team at the age of 15. Unfortunately an injury prevented her from going pro but after being a stunt double for underwater scenes in Gateway To The West she landed a role on Bridgerton. Boulares reportedly also threatened Aled Jones with a machete 18 months prior, as he stole the star's £17,000 Rolex watch while in West London. He was jailed for 14 months in a young offenders centre after the incident in October 2023, getting released 10 months early. At the hearing regarding Chenneour's case, he also admitted to stealing a handbag at a pizza restaurant in London's West End in January this year. In a message on her Instagram, the Bridgerton debutante thanked fans for their support after the attack. 'I'm okay and incredibly grateful he won't be able to harm anyone else,' she said. 'I am, however, finding it difficult to feel safe going out – especially after being repeatedly threatened with being stabbed in the face.' Chenneour revealed that the man at the end of the video had threatened to stab her, turning it into a 'life or death' situation'in her mind'. This second man has been released due to a lack of evidence and won't be going to court, according to the star. A spokesman for the Met Police said: 'Police were called to a restaurant on Kensington High Street on Saturday, 8 February following reports of a theft and an assault. 'CCTV showed the suspect stealing a phone from the table and then assaulting a separate member of the public who confronted him. More Trending 'The victim of the assault was kicked and punched before the suspect left the premises. 'CCTV enquiries identified Zacariah Boulares as the suspect and he was arrested. Boulares, 18, was charged with common assault and theft.' View More » He will be sentenced later this month. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: 'Raw' thriller with unbelievable twist shoots to the top of Netflix chart MORE: Missing woman found 'safe and well' three months after she disappeared MORE: Netflix fans threaten to cancel subscriptions over 'worst update possible'
NBC News
16 hours ago
- NBC News
ICE says it detained TikTok star Khaby Lame and told him to leave the U.S.
U.S. immigration officials said they detained Khaby Lame, one of the world's most popular TikTok personalities, last week and told him to leave the country after they said he "overstayed the terms of his visa." The Italian-Senegalese creator, whose real name is Seringe Khabane Lame, entered the U.S. on April 30, according to a spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He was granted "voluntary departure" on Friday after he was detained by agents at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. Lame did not respond to requests for comment made by NBC News. He has not publicly commented on the reported detainment and subsequent departure. Lame has continued to post on social media in the days since he reportedly left the U.S. His most recent Instagram story appears to have been posted from Brazil. Sharks Celebrities Mgmt, which is among the listed agency representatives for the creator, claimed the ICE report is "fake news," telling NBC News in an email that Lame "did not visit the USA this month to begin with." They said the "the name mentioned is not his birth name." It's unclear when Lame was last in the U.S. but he did attend the Met Gala in May. Lame has 162.2 million followers on TikTok, where he grew a massive following during the pandemic after being laid off from a factory job in Italy. The 25-year-old, who is also a goodwill ambassador for the humanitarian aid organization UNICEF, is known for his comedic videos that often use the hashtag, 'learnfromkhaby.' The news comes amid the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration in the U.S., including efforts to detain travelers arriving at the border, including airports. In recent months, social media users have recounted their interactions with immigration officials and shared their fears about traveling back to the U.S. during a period of heightened vigilance at U.S. entry points and borders. Lame is one of the more high-profile people to date to be detained. Last month, Hasan Piker, one of the top political pundits on Twitch, said that he was stopped and questioned by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officials at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport after a trip to France. The Turkish American streamer, who is vocal on a number of political and social issues, said he was asked about his views, including whether he supports President Donald Trump. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said at the time that 'claims that his political beliefs triggered the inspection are baseless.' Immigration raids have also ramped up across the U.S., including in Los Angeles, where protests have continued for days as demonstrators push back on the Trump administration's aggressive round-up efforts.
Metro
16 hours ago
- Metro
British photographer films moment US police shoot him with rubber bullet
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A British photographer on assignment to cover the Los Angeles riots filmed the moment he was shot in the head with a rubber bullet. Toby Canham, a dad of two, screamed: 'F***, f***, I just got shot in the head,' before falling to the ground. Less than six months after wildfires tore apart the City of Angels, the city is burning again as protests against the detention of illegal immigrants throughout the community have boiled over into outright violence. President Donald Trump has sent 2,000 troops to quell the disorder, even as the state governor blamed him for 'inflaming tensions', saying things were under control until he intervened. But innocent bystanders, such as Canham, who was on assignment for the New York Post, are caught in the middle. Canham said: 'When I got whacked, to my best recollection, it was just me filming with my cameras on and then I got shot. 'Where I was hit, I was the only person overlooking the freeway. I wasn't surrounded, so I was an easy target.' Toby was left with a gaping forehead wound, which has since been treated, but he isn't the only one who's been injured. Good Morning Britain star Noel Phillips was shot with a rubber bullet just before presenting from the LA protests. The North America Correspondent for the ITV show revealed on air this morning that just before he came onto air on Monday morning, he was shot by police. Dozens of people have been arrested as protests grow daily – today is the fifth day of demonstrations. Police have set off flash-bang grenades, used tear gas and shot rubber bullets into the crowds. It has now been reported that other Democratic cities, including New York, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Northern Virginia, will be targeted in new raids. California Governor Gavin Newsom teared up as he issued a warning yesterday: 'Other states are next. Democracy is next. Democracy is under assault before our eyes; this moment we have feared has arrived.' More Trending The other cities on the target list are known sanctuary cities, where local laws often protect undocumented immigrants from deportation. Trump views these as illegal, and previously said he'd withhold federal funding from them. He's also threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, a major federal law which allows him to arrest protesters, whom he calls 'insurrectionists', en masse. The act was not, however, invoked during the January 6th riots, where insurrectionists broke into the nation's capital. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: TikTok star Khaby Lame with 162,000,000 followers flees US after being detained by ICE MORE: Elon Musk says he 'went too far' with posts about Donald Trump MORE: Trump likens LA protests to foreign 'invasion' amid attempt to block him from using troops
