This article contains references to sexual assault.
A New York judge has set a date of 4 January for a hearing in which lawyers for Britain's Prince Andrew will plead for the dismissal of a sexual assault lawsuit brought by a US woman.
"The Court will hear argument on defendant's motion to dismiss the complaint on January 4, 2022, at 10 am" (2am AEDT on 5 January, 2022) wrote Judge Lewis Kaplan.
The Duke of York, 61, has been under increasing pressure since August when Virginia Giuffre, 38, filed a complaint in Manhattan federal court accusing Queen Elizabeth's second son of sexual assault when she was a minor over 20 years ago.
Ms Giuffre, who now lives in Australia, alleges that late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein lent her out for sex with his wealthy and powerful associates, including Prince Andrew.
Lawyers for Britain's Prince Andrew will plead in early January for the dismissal of a case of sexual assault brought by Virginia Giuffre. Source: AAP
She says the prince assaulted her at Epstein's home in New York, as well as on his private island in the US Virgin Islands.
Ms Giuffre alleges that the Duke also sexually abused her at the London home of socialite Ghislaine Maxwell.
Epstein died in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on child sex trafficking charges, in what New York's coroner ruled was a suicide.
Prince Andrew and Virginia Roberts, now Giuffre, aged 17 at Ghislaine Maxwell’s townhouse in London in 2001. Source: Rex/Shutterstock
Andrew, who has not been charged with crimes, has denied the allegations and called for the complaint to be dismissed, saying it was "without merit" and that Ms Giuffre was seeking to profit financially from the case.
A civil trial — if the prince's request is rejected — should be held "between September and December next year," Judge Kaplan said recently.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
