Prince Andrew's lawyers want to quiz the husband of the royal's sex assault accuser Virginia Roberts over her 'role in recruiting and trafficking underage girls' for paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Ms Roberts, 38, is suing Andrew in New York for battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress after claiming in a civil suit that she was trafficked by Epstein and forced to have sex with Andrew, 61, on three occasions when she was 17.
However, Judge Lewis Kaplan has now written to Australia's Attorney General to secure their assistance in arranging an interview with Robert Giuffre, Ms Roberts' husband since 2002, after the duke's legal team invoked the Hague Convention to question him under oath on Monday.
In his letter, the judge said Prince Andrew's lawyers want to speak to Mr Giuffre about the couple's living arrangements in Australia, any conversations he has had with his wife about the duke, her 'alleged childhood abuse' and aspects of her income, The Mirror reports.
The letter added that the duke's legal team has asked that 'Mr Giuffre be examined' about his wife's 'role in recruiting and trafficking underage girls for Epstein'.
The judge has also asked the country's Attorney General for their assistance in securing an interview with Ms Roberts' therapist Dr Judith Lightfoot.
Andrew's lawyers want details of any medical treatment she may have received, any diagnosis she may have been given and her medical history.
The letter continues that they want to access the bills charged by Dr Lightfoot, as well as any alleged 'emotional and psychological harm and damages' suffered by Ms Roberts.
Both interviews are expected to take place on April 29.
Robert Giuffre and Virginia Roberts, who is suing under her married name of Giuffre, pictured together
Prince Andrew's legal team want to quiz Mr Giuffre in Australia after invoking the Hague Convention to question him under oath
As the case moves ahead, British legal authorities must help with the request from accuser Ms Roberts to interview his former equerry, Major Robert Olney. Pictured: Andrew, Roberts and Maxwell
Paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein pictured in custody in 2017. He died by suicide in prison in August 2019
Andrew's lawyer in the US, Andrew Brettler, is understood to have a 'strong opinion' that he should fly to Australia to conduct the interview in Perth - close to where Ms Roberts' now resides.
It comes as Judge Kaplan also approved requests for four people to be formally interviewed in the UK and Australia yesterday.
As the case moves ahead, British legal authorities must help with the request from accuser Ms Roberts to interview his former equerry, Major Robert Olney.
Her lawyers, David Boies and Sigrid McCawley, want to ask Major Olney about Andrew's dealings with Epstein.
They also want to talk to a woman, Shukri Walker, who says she saw Miss Roberts with Andrew at a London nightclub in 2001, after which Miss Roberts claims she had to have sex with him.
Mark Stephens CBE, of London law firm Howard Kennedy, said of the request by Miss Roberts – now married as Mrs Giuffre – to conduct interviews in the UK: 'It's obviously closing the net around Andrew.'
The requests for help from foreign legal authorities were filed in mid January and were approved yesterday (Monday) 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.
The request states that they should be filed with the Senior Master in the Foreign Process Section at the High Court in London.
Ms Roberts' lawyers, David Boies and Sigrid McCawley, want to ask Major Olney (pictured) about Andrew's dealings with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein
Mrs Giuffre, 38, (pictured) is suing Andrew in New York for battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. She claims that at 17 she was loaned to the Duke for sex by Epstein
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.
Ms Roberts is suing the duke for unspecified damages, which US lawyers say could be more than £14million if she is successful.
Andrew strongly denies Ms Roberts' allegations, but Judge Kaplan rejected his request last month to have the case dismissed.
After the decision the Duke was stripped of most of his remaining royal patronages and military titles which were returned to The Queen.
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