New York (AFP)

"Haunted forever": Fifteen women described Tuesday in Manhattan federal court the ordeal they claim to have suffered financial Jeffrey Epstein, who committed suicide in prison on August 10 after being accused of multiple sexual assaults on minor.

Judge Richard Berman invited the alleged victims to come to speak at an unprecedented hearing, before closing a file made obsolete by the death of the financier of 66 years: 16 women, who often spoke publicly for the first time , answered the call, taking turns speaking.

The voice sometimes stifled by tears, they explained how this figure of the jet set, who frequented people like Donald Trump, Bill Clinton or Prince Andrew, had "stolen" their innocence and broken their dreams.

Seven other women had statements made by their lawyers in a packed courtroom.

"Today we are united, I will not be a victim or remain silent one more day," said actress Anouska De Georgiou, who claimed to have been sexually assaulted by the financier.

After talking, many embraced or consoled each other.

Some cried while listening to the others evoke experiences sadly similar to theirs: how, while they were young and in situation often precarious, they had been "recruited", under the pretext of harmless massages, before being forced to have some sex with Jeffrey Epstein.

Chauntae Davies recounted spending two weeks in the hospital "throwing up to death" after being raped by the financier.

"All the public humiliation I suffered, I suffered and he (Epstein) won," she said.

Another woman, who asked to remain anonymous, claimed to be "haunted forever", after having also been raped.

"I was her slave, I felt disarmed and ashamed," she said, adding that Epstein had threatened to kill her if she lost her virginity.

- "He did not act alone"

Many of the women present expressed outrage at the suicide of Jeffrey Epstein, who caused scandal in the United States and sparked a torrent of speculation and conspiracy theories.

"I am very angry and sad because justice will never be done in this case," Courtney Wild said, calling Epstein "cowardly".

Another presumed victim, Jennifer Araoz, said that "even with his death, Jeffrey Epstein is trying to hurt us."

"The fact that I will never be able to confront my predator in court is gnawing at me," she said.

Several of Epstein's accusers claimed to have been "recruited" by Ghislaine Maxwell, the daughter of British media magnate Robert Maxwell, who was briefly Epstein's mate and then a close friend.

The latter has always denied such accusations. Nobody could locate it so far.

- Find the accomplices

Most of the accusers called on prosecutors to hunt down her potential accomplices.

"Please, finish what you started, the American victims are ready to tell the truth, he did not act alone," said Sarah Ransome, accusing Epstein of having organized an international sexual exploitation network.

"We must continue to do the truth and not stop there," said Virginia Giuffre, whose charges against Epstein and several other personalities including Prince Andrew were revealed in a series of court documents released in early August.

The prince "knows exactly what he has done and I hope he will be honest," she told reporters after the hearing, while the prince vigorously denied any involvement.

Federal prosecutor Maurene Comey promised them to continue the investigation.

Judge Richard Berman praised "the courage" of women who came out of silence, and described suicide as "a staggering turn of events".

While the Department of Justice has opened two inquiries into the circumstances surrounding this suicide and the forensic pathologist has formally concluded a hanging suicide, Jeffrey Epstein's lawyer, Martin Weinberg, has said he still doubts this explanation, and called the judge to open his own investigation.

"We want to know deeply what happened to our client," he told the audience.

Jeffrey Epstein was arrested in early July when he returned from a trip to France. He risked 45 years in prison if sentenced in the United States.

© 2019 AFP