"Attorneys for Oren and Tal Alexander used their first statements to the jury to argue the brothers were simply successful career men who liked women, enjoyed sex and used the opportunities presented to them to pursue that. While what the brothers did may have been immoral, attorneys argued, calling them womanizers, it wasn't criminal. We're not here for the asshole awards, said Tal Alexander's attorney, Deanna Paul, in her opening statement. If we were, we could lock them up and we could all go home. But that's not what we're here for."
"Assistant District Attorney Madison Smyser used her opening statement to detail specific instances in which the brothers worked together to drug and rape women after using their wealth and influence to entice, coerce and trick them to meet, go to parties and take luxury, paid-for vacations for over a decade. This is a case about three brothers who worked together to rapewoman after woman, girl after girlthey're partners in crime, Smyser said."
"Paul and Teny Geragos, an attorney for Oren Alexander, both told the jury in separate statements that there is was no evidence the brothers gave things of value to women in exchange for sex a requirement for a sex trafficking charge and argued that the women who are accusing the brothers of rape and trafficking chose to be around the Alexanders, and were not forced."
Three brothers—Tal, Alon and Oren Alexander—face federal charges including 12 counts of sex trafficking and sexual assault after accusations from more than 60 women. Defense attorneys characterize the brothers as successful men who pursued consensual sexual relationships and argue there is no evidence of giving things of value in exchange for sex, a required element for trafficking. Prosecutors allege the brothers used wealth, influence, parties and luxury trips to entice, coerce, drug and rape women over more than a decade, and say the brothers worked together to target victims. The case centers on competing narratives of consensual encounters versus coordinated criminal conduct.
Read at www.amny.com
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