“It is not being offered for the truth of the matters asserted therein, and you may not consider it for that purpose,” read a letter from US Attorney Damian Williams to Judge Nathan. “Rather, you may consider it only to the extent you believe it is relevant to show a link, if any, between Ms. Maxwell and the names and phone numbers listed and how, if at all, the information was organised.”

The defence had argued that there was no proof that the book was one of those that Juan Alessi, a former house manager at Epstein’s Florida villa, testified were commonly used by Ms Maxwell and others to book massages and other visits from girls.

The government rested its case on Friday, calling a total of 24 accusers and witnesses. Court was adjourned until Thursday due to a scheduling issue.

Defence to call 35 witnesses

Ms Maxwell’s lawyers revealed on Sunday night that they plan to call 35 witnesses, many more than had been expected. The defence has been left to scramble to put together a lineup after the prosecution rested more than a week early.

The defence team told the judge on Friday they expected their case to last upwards of four days, leaving some to speculate that the case could be wrapped up by Christmas Day – 59-year-old Ms Maxwell’s birthday. That now looks unlikely.

Attorney Bobbi Sternheim wrote in a letter to the judge that some of the witnesses will be coming from outside the southern district of New York covered by the court and some would be travelling from “abroad”.

She also requested that three witnesses be granted the right to testify anonymously.

“The Court’s ruling on this issue may impact the willingness of these witnesses to testify, thereby compromising Ms. Maxwell’s right to present her defence, and may affect the witness order,” wrote Ms Sternheim.

The prosecution is objecting to the request and complained to the judge that they were only sent a witness list by the defence but not a running order, which has left them unable to prepare. 

The government’s case included testimony from friends and family of the women, a psychologist focused on sexual abuse and trauma, and Epstein’s ex-employees.

They concluded with Annie Farmer, the only one of the four accusers to testify using her real name – who claimed she was molested by Ms Maxwell aged 16 during a naked massage at Epstein’s New Mexico ranch in 1996.

Her testimony followed harrowing accounts from three other women who accused Epstein of sexual abuse and fingered Ms Maxwell as his “partner-in-crime”.