'Despite all the adversity she faced, she was the light that lifted so many'

The life of Virginia Giuffre, and her battle to expose the financier Jeffrey Epstein as a child sex trafficker, was commemorated with tributes after her family announced yesterday the 41-year-old had died at her home in Australia.

- James Tapper & Phoebe Davis

Police said emergency services had been called to a home in Neergabby, near Perth, on Friday night. Giuffre's family said yesterday that she had taken her life at her farm.

"She lost her life to suicide after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking," they said in a statement. “She was the light that lifted so many survivors. Despite all the adversity she faced in her life, she shone so bright. She will be missed beyond measure."

Of all Epstein's victims, Giuffre took the lead in bringing him to justice and taking on his friend, Prince Andrew.

The Duke of York paid her an out-of-court settlement over her claims that he had sexually assaulted her, on the condition there was no admission of liability or an apology.

In an interview with Emily Maitlis on BBC Newsnight, the Duke said he had "no recollection of ever meeting" Giuffre, but his assertion that he was at a Pizza Express in Woking, Surrey, on the night in question led to widespread ridicule, and a few days later he stepped back from royal duties.

Giuffre's lawyer Sigrid McCawley said that her client's "courage pushed me to fight harder, and her strength was awe-inspiring", while her publicist Dini von Mueffling said Giuffre was a "most extraordinary" human being, adding: "Deeply loving, wise and funny, she was a beacon to other survivors and victims."