British 'madam' accused of recruiting teenage 'sex slave' Virginia Roberts for Prince Andrew's friend Jeffrey Epstein denies calling her a liar 

• Ghislaine Maxwell is accused of procuring young girls for Jeffrey Epstein 
• Virginia Roberts says she acted as a 'madame' for the billionaire financier
• In September, Roberts sued Maxwell for dismissing her claims as 'untrue'
• Maxwell says she never called her liar, defamation suit should be dropped 

The British socialite accused of recruiting Virginia Roberts as a a 'sex slave' for Jeffrey Epstein has denied calling her a liar - and says the defamation lawsuit against her should be dropped. 

Maxwell and Roberts' lawyers have been arguing over statements made by Maxwell, who is accused of saying Roberts' allegations were 'untrue' and 'obvious lies'.

Roberts began legal action against Maxwell in September, saying the daughter of disgraced newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell has defamed her by denying her claims of abuse. 

Roberts said Maxwell recruited her as a sex slave for billionaire financier Epstein, a friend of Prince Andrew, and who sexually abused her over a number of years.

Maxwell's lawyer Laura Menninger said in court: 'Saying the allegations are untrue are tantamount to general denial.'

But Roberts' lawyer Sigrid McCawley claimed she had suffered personal and professional harm because of Maxwell's statements, website Page Six reported.

McCawley added: 'The statements that [Roberts] lied … are statements that expose her to public contempt and ridicule.'

'I see no other allegation that is worse than calling a sex-abuse victim a liar.' 

She said Roberts has been 'beaten down' since telling the world that Maxwell introduced her to paedophile Epstein in 1999.

Epstein has strongly denied any sexual activity with Roberts.

Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting an underage prostitute in 2008 and served 13 months of an 18 month jail sentence. 

Neither Roberts nor Maxwell appeared in court for the brief hearing and the judge will decide whether the dismiss Roberts' suit at a later date.