VIRGINIA Giuffre’s brother has paid tribute to his sister with a sweet photograph after her tragic death at the age of 41.
The mum-of-three, who was sex trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and accused Prince Andrew of sexually abusing her when she was 17, died by suicide at her home in Western Australia on Friday night.
Her family said the toll of her abuse was “so heavy” it became “unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight”.
On Saturday, the mum-of-three’s brother Danny Wilson paid tribute to his sister on Facebook with a happy photo of the pair and another man.
Virginia is seen smiling at the camera with her arm placed lovingly around her brother.
The other man is believed to be her older brother Sky.
In the end, the toll of abuse is so heavy that it became unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight
Virginia Giuffre's family
Virginia’s family released a touching statement on her passing this morning.
It said: “It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce that Virginia passed away last night at her farm in Western Australia.
“She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking.”
They added: “Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking. She was the light that lifted so many survivors.
“In the end, the toll of abuse is so heavy that it became unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight.”
Police confirmed emergency services were called to reports of an unresponsive woman at a property in the Perth suburb of Neergabby on Friday night.
Paying tribute, Virginia’s long-time publicist Dini von Mueffling said her client was “one of the most extraordinary human beings I have ever had the honour to know”.
“Deeply loving, wise, and funny, she was a beacon to other survivors and victims,” she added.
“It was the privilege of a lifetime to represent her.”
Sigrid McCawley, a lawyer for Virginia, said in a statement: “Her courage pushed me to fight harder, and her strength was awe-inspiring.
“The world has lost an amazing human being today. Rest in peace, my sweet angel.”
It comes just weeks after Virginia, who was believed to have separated from her husband, was treated in an Australian hospital following a bus crash.
She was charged with breaching a family violence restraining order in Ocean Reef, near Perth, on February 2, Western Australia Courts said.
Virginia’s case was first heard in Joondalup Magistrates’ Court in northern Perth on March 14, where she did not enter a plea.
The matter was adjourned to June 11 for a plea hearing, according to Western Australia Courts.
American-born Virginia lived in Australia for years, becoming an advocate for sex trafficking survivors after emerging as a central figure in the prolonged downfall of disgraced paedophile financier Epstein.
Who was Virginia Giuffre?
VIRGINIA Roberts - later Virginia Giuffre, 41, was an American-Australian campaigner and a prominent victim of the sex trafficking ring of Jeffrey Epstein.
She made claims against Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, as well as Brit socialite Ghislaine Maxwell – Jeffrey Epstein’s ex-lover.
Giuffre alleged in court documents that she was procured by Maxwell, 63, the daughter of disgraced tycoon Robert Maxwell, as a teenage “sex slave” for Epstein.
She released a manuscript just hours before Epstein’s death, which added to more than 2,000 documents of a lawsuit pending against the former financier and his pals.
The legal documents were released in a defamation case involving Giuffre, who has claimed in court documents that Prince Andrew slept with her three times.
In 2019, Virginia Roberts claimed that she had sex with Prince Andrew in a toilet when she was 17, after a night where he had allegedly been plying her with vodka in a posh London club.
On February 15, 2022, it was announced that Prince Andrew settled the lawsuit – sparing him a humiliating court battle.
The mum, who leaves behind three children, sued Prince Andrew in 2021, claiming she was trafficked and forced to have sex with the Duke on three occasions when she was a teen.
It was the first time she had brought action against him after going public with the allegations in 2011.
She claimed she was trafficked and forced to have sex with the Andrew for the first time at Maxwell’s house in London after a night out at the club Tramp.
Virginia also claimed she was forced to have sex with the Duke on at least two further occasions by Maxwell and Epstein.
Her legal team argued she was a “frightened, vulnerable child with no one there to protect her” when she was allegedly abused by Andrew, saying “no person, whether President or Prince, is above the law“.
She claimed she feared for her life when she was allegedly forced to have sex with Andrew, who is accused of having been aware of her age and status as a “sex-trafficking victim”.
Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking
Virginia Giuffre's family
The Duke has ignored repeated calls to tell US authorities what he knows about paedo Epstein’s criminal behaviour.
In his notorious Newsnight interview five years ago, Andrew vowed to help the probe into Epstein and his warped madam Maxwell.
But the royal has remained silent – and claimed he knew nothing of Epstein’s vile crimes despite their friendship.
Andrew has denied any wrongdoing and has denied allegations made against him.
Epstein took his own life in jail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in 2019.
Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for conspiring with him to sexually abuse minors.
You're Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,www.headstogether.org.uk
- HUMEN www.wearehumen.org
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans,www.samaritans.org, 116 123