U.S. Judge Denies Prince Andrew’s Bid to Dismiss Virginia Giuffre Lawsuit: Will Go to Trial

Prince Andrew had his bid to get a civil case which alleges he sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre dismissed by a U.S. judge on Wednesday.

The BBC reports his lawyers said the case should be thrown out, citing a 2009 deal she signed with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. But a New York judge ruled the claim could be heard.

Prince Andrew has consistently denied the allegations.

The motion to dismiss the lawsuit was outlined in a 46-page decision by Judge Lewis A Kaplan of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Kaplan’s decision to rejected the application from the Duke’s lawyers is likely to result in a high-profile case in September over Giuffre’s sensational allegations against the British royal.