Ghislaine Maxwell's sex-trafficking trial to begin in New York City

British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell is due to go on trial in New York City on sex trafficking and other charges.

She is expected to challenge claims she groomed underage girls for convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein for sexual abuse. He died in prison in 2019.

Ms Maxwell, 59, has been in a US jail since her arrest last year, awaiting the high-profile six-week trial.

Ms Maxwell, who also has American and French citizenship, has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against her.

Lawyers for Ms Maxwell, as well as family members, have repeatedly complained about her conditions in jail and her legal team has made several unsuccessful applications for bail.

Epstein died in a New York prison cell on 10 August 2019 as he awaited his trial on sex trafficking charges.