Expert hired by Jeffrey Epstein’s family contests suicide finding

Expert hired by Jeffrey Epstein’s attorney says his injuries were more consistent with homicide than suicide during a federal hearing attended by the pedophile’s victims

  • One of Jeffrey Epstein’s attorneys Martin Weinberg spoke about his suicide during a Manhattan court hearing on Tuesday
  • The lawyer said an expert hired by Epstein’s family said injuries to his neck were more consistent with homicide than suicide 
  • A New York City coroner officially ruled that Epstein’s August 10 death in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center was a suicide by hanging 
  • He was found with several broken bones in his neck, including the hyoid bone, which lead to speculation that his death was a homicide
  • Breakages to that specific bone more commonly seen in victims who have been strangled, according to forensic experts 

One of Jeffrey Epstein’s attorneys has told a judge that an expert hired by the millionaire pedophile’s family says injuries to his neck were more consistent with homicide rather than suicide. 

Prosecutors and lawyers for Epstein spoke about his death during a Manhattan court hearing on Tuesday during which many of his accusers spoke out about the sexual abuse they suffered. 

A New York City coroner officially ruled that Epstein’s August 10 death in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center was a suicide by hanging.

Attorney Martin Weinberg asked U.S. District Judge Richard Berman to look into the matter. 

‘Find out what happened to our client,’ he told the judge. ‘We’re quite angry.’ 

Epstein attorney Martin Weinberg

One of Jeffrey Epstein’s attorneys, Martin Weinberg, (right) has told a judge that an expert hired by the millionaire pedophile’s family says injuries to his neck were more consistent with homicide rather than suicide

When a prosecutor said the manner of Epstein’s death was irrelevant to the current proceedings, the judge responded: ‘Well, I don’t know. … I think it’s fair game for defense counsel to raise its concerns.’

The judge, however, took no immediate action on the request.

Prosecutors noted that a grand jury is already investigating the death. 

Epstein had pleaded not guilty to charges he sex trafficked women in the early 2000s.

Berman had said earlier in the hearing that Epstein’s suicide was a ‘stunning turn of events’. 

Officials said Epstein hanged himself with a bed sheet from the top set of bunks. 

He was found with several broken bones in his neck, including the hyoid bone, when guards were doing their morning rounds.

Revelations of the broken bones in his neck lead to speculation that his death was a homicide.

Breakages to that specific bone can occur when people hang themselves but are more commonly seen in victims who have been strangled, according to forensic experts. 

The grim details surrounding his death came as it was revealed Epstein was in ‘great spirits’ before his death and even believed he would be bailed out in order to cooperate with authorities, sources said at the time.

Attorney Martin Weinberg (pictured in a court sketch with Epstein in July) asked U.S. District Judge Richard Berman on Tuesday (also pictured) to look into the matter

Attorney Martin Weinberg (pictured in a court sketch with Epstein in July) asked U.S. District Judge Richard Berman on Tuesday (also pictured) to look into the matter

The pedophile met daily with lawyers at the prison for about 12 hours and believed his legal team would win an appeal to get him bail on charges of child sex trafficking.

These details added to the conspiracy theories that immediately swirled after his body was found. 

Epstein’s death prompted outrage and disbelief over how such a high-profile prisoner, known for socializing with powerful people including presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, could have been left without surveillance at the federal facility. 

Epstein, who was charged with sexually abusing numerous underage girls over several years, had been placed on suicide watch last month after he was found on his cell floor on July 23 with bruising on his neck.

Multiple sources have said Epstein was taken off the watch after a week and put back in a high-security housing unit where he was less closely monitored but still supposedly checked every 30 minutes.   

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk