LUC COHEN  GHISLAINE Maxwell's sex abuse trial in Manhattan federal court began this week. Prosecutors have accused the British socialite of grooming teenage girls for abuse by now-deceased investor Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell has pleaded not guilty. Here are five key moments from the first week of trial: - In her opening statement, prosecutor Lara Pomerantz called Maxwell a predator who "preyed on vulnerable young girls, manipulated them, and served them up to be sexually abused." - Defense attorney Bobbi Sternheim countered that Maxwell was being scapegoated since Epstein is no longer alive. "The charges against Ghislaine Maxwell are for things…

KAREN FREIFELD and LUC COHEN GHISLAINE Maxwell was the "lady of the house" at now-deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein's Palm Beach estate, a former house manager testified at the British socialite's sex abuse trial in Manhattan federal court on Thursday. Juan Alessi, who worked full-time for Epstein from 1991 to 2002, said Maxwell was with Epstein "95% of the time" he was at the property. Maxwell, whom he called "the girlfriend of Mr Epstein," primarily supervised him and advised him not to look the globetrotting financier in the eye, Alessi, 71, testified. "Jeffrey doesn't like to be looked at in his…