THE JUDGE in Prince Andrew’s sex case has approved requests to formally interview FOUR people in both Britain and Australia.
In the latest sign the case is moving ahead, UK authorities now have to help with a request from Andrew’s accuser Virginia Roberts to interview the Duke’s former equerry, Major Robert Olney.
Her lawyers also want to speak to Shukri Walker – a woman who claims to have seen Ms Roberts dancing with Andrew at a club in London in 2001.
And Andrew’s lawyers are seeking help from the Australian legal authorities to speak to Ms Roberts’ husband Robert Giuffre and her therapist.
Judge Lewis Kaplan signed off on the demands to depose the four people.
Miss Roberts claims she was forced to have sex with Andrew three times between 1999 and 2002 — in London, New York and on Epstein’s private Caribbean island.
Ms Giuffre, now 38, has filed a battery and infliction of emotional distress lawsuit against Andrew.
Andrew has always strongly denied all allegations made against him.
The requests for help from foreign legal authorities were filed in mid January and were approved yesterday by Judge Kaplan.
They cite the Hague Convention on taking of evidence abroad in civil matters as the basis on which they must be carried out.
Ms Roberts’ lawyers David Boies and Sigrid McCawley want to speak to Major Olney about Andrew’s dealings with Epstein.
They also want to chat with Ms Walker about what she saw at the Tramp nightclub in 2001 – after which Ms Roberts claims she was made to have sex with Andrew.
Their request needs to be filed with the Senior Master in the Foreign Process Section at the High Court in London.
Once the request is received, Ms Roberts’ lawyers from Boies Schiller Flexner in the UK will make an application for further details about assistance, the letter states.
The Duke’s requests were filed with the Principal Legal Office at the Australian Attorney General’s office.
His lawyer, Los Angeles-based Andrew Brettler, wants to depose Mr Giuffre about her alleged role in Epstein’s sex trafficking operation and details about her emotional harm.
Mr Brettler also wants to depose Ms Roberts’ therapist – Dr Judith Lightfoot – about her emotional condition among other issues and is seeking documents on related subjects.
All four requests have to be completed by late April, the documents state.
Last month Judge Kaplan rejected a request by Andrew to have the case dismissed in a huge setback to the ninth in line to the throne.
After the decision the Duke was stripped of most of his remaining royal patronages and military titles which were returned to The Queen.
