Prince Andrew accuser’s secret deal with Jeffrey Epstein is RELEASED as royal hopes it could torpedo case

PRINCE Andrew accuser Virginia Roberts’s secret deal with Jeffrey Epstein has been released by a judge. The Duke of York’s legal team had been hoping the document could be key to letting him off the hook as her lawsuit against him comes to court tomorrow. AFPPrince Andrew’s lawyers hope this document may mean the case is stopped in its tracks[/caption] The document reveals the terms of a $500,000 payout from Epstein’s estate to Virginia, who was abused and trafficked by the multimillonaire paedophile. Andrews’ lawyers hope that the terms of the back room agreement mean that Virginia will not be able to carry on with her lawsuit against him. The 2009 deal details how all other “potential defendants” are excused from “all manner of action and actions of Virginia Roberts”. Virginia’s settlement had been kept under seal – but judges last month ordered it to be released today unless “good cause” could be shown otherwise. The Duke’s lawyers maintain that a clause in the agreement precludes him from being sued by Virginia – who alleges he sexually assaulted her three times when she was 17. The now 38-year-old claims she was enticed by the Duke of York’s pal Ghislaine Maxwell and lured into Epstein’s sexual pyramid scheme. Maxwell, 60, was this week found guilty of helping to lure vulnerable teens to ex-lover Epstein’s properties for him to abuse between 1994 and 2004. Virginia’s lawyers agreed to hand over a copy of the settlement for Andrew’s lawyers to examine back in October. Andrew strongly denies all allegations against him and says he had no knowledge of Epstein or Maxwell’s crimes. But his legal team have been lobbying for it to be placed on public record. They got their wish after judges Loretta Preska and Lewis Kaplan – who are overseeing the lawsuit against the duke – last month backed the claim and ordered it to be made public. Andrew has not been charged with any crimes, but the prince is trying to have Virginia’s lawsuit dismissed. Most read in News STAYING THE COURSE Britain to remain lockdown-free as Covid data is reviewed, says Boris ICE COLD Chilling moment mum LIES to cops to protect partner who murdered her newborn son 'HEARTBROKEN' I ordered my son PS5 for Xmas but when he opened box he got a DOG BED HOME WORK Kids could return to homeschooling after Covid ravages teaching staff GRIM FIND Reality TV star is found dead in New Jersey storage facility SECRET DOCS Prince Andrew to have secret Epstein deal with Virginia made public TODAY More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at Sun Online. Thesun.co.uk is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Download our fantastic, new and improved free App for the best ever Sun Online experience. For iPhone click here, for Android click here.  Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.