He was a model agent and Epstein confidante. Defendant Jean-Luc Brunel was found dead in his cell in Paris. Allegedly he hanged himself.
Paris – French fashion entrepreneur and former business partner of sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein, Jean-Luc Brunel, jailed on suspicion of raping minors, has been found dead in his prison cell.
The public prosecutor’s office in Paris confirmed information from the AFP news agency on Saturday. It had been said from informed circles that Brunel had died by hanging, which the public prosecutor’s office did not initially confirm.
Epstein confidante arrested in December 2020
The 75-year-old was arrested in December 2020 after several previous models accused him of rape. It was initially determined because of “rape of minors over the age of 15” and “sexual harassment” in two cases. Another preliminary investigation into the rape of a minor followed in June.
According to the indictment, the founder of various modeling agencies could also have “organized the transport and accommodation of young girls or young women for Jeffrey Epstein”. The investigating judges initially classified Brunel as a “witness with legal assistance” to the offense of “severe human trafficking”.
Serious allegations against Frenchman Jean-Luc Brunel
In August 2019, the French judiciary launched an investigation into suspected rape and other sexual assaults against Brunel in connection with the Epstein case. The US multimillionaire Epstein is said to have raped and sexually abused underage girls and young women for years and forced them into prostitution. In 2019, Epstein, who socialized with well-known figures from politics and society such as former US Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump or British Prince Andrew, was arrested. Epstein was also found dead in his prison cell in the USA, according to official information he committed suicide in his cell.
Epstein was convicted of sexually abusing underage girls in 2008 but only served a 13-month sentence based on a collusion with the then Attorney General. The name Brunel appeared in the documents even then.
Brunel’s lawyers denounce unfair treatment
With Epstein’s renewed arrest and death, several ex-models had reported rape allegations against Brunel. Such allegations against the entrepreneur were first made towards the end of the 1980s.
Brunel’s lawyers now denounced the unfair treatment of their client by the media and the judiciary. “Jean-Luc Brunel has repeatedly protested his innocence,” they said on Saturday.
With his death, the proceedings will be discontinued, provided there are no accusations against other parties involved. Counsel for the joint plaintiffs, Anne-Claire Le Jeune, spoke on Saturday of the “frustration and bitterness of not being able to get justice, like the victims of Epstein”. Brunel will take some secrets with him to the grave. “Some things we will not get answers to.” (afp)
In general, we do not report suicides, lest such cases encourage potential imitators. Reporting only takes place if the circumstances receive special public attention. If you or someone you know is suffering from an existential life crisis or depression, please contact the telephone counseling service on: 0800-1110111. The Psychiatric Crisis Service for Munich and Upper Bavaria also offers help on 0180-6553000. Further information can be found on the website www.kundendienst-psychiatrie.de/.
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