Defense attorneys for three brothers — Oren, Tal, and Alon Alexander — say they plan to prove at trial that many witnesses set to testify against them are lying.
In new filings in Manhattan federal court, the lawyers said they intend to use photographs and text messages to show inconsistencies in the witnesses’ stories, according to The Associated Press.
Judge Valerie E. Caproni, who will preside over the case, held a hearing Thursday to establish ground rules ahead of the trial, currently set for Jan. 5. She said she may delay it until May to allow more time to resolve legal issues.
Prosecutors told the court they could need up to six weeks to present their case, while defense attorneys said their side might take about a week.
The three brothers remain held without bail. Prosecutors allege that more than 60 people were raped by at least one of them. Lawyers for the men deny all allegations.
Before the charges, Oren and Tal Alexander were prominent real estate brokers who sold luxury properties in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. Prosecutors claim they used their wealth and influence to assault women between 2002 and 2021.
In court papers filed Thursday, defense lawyers said they had found “evidence that undermines nearly every aspect of the alleged victims’ narratives.”
They wrote, “many witnesses are going to testify untruthfully on direct examination — whether it be because of their own current situation, their motive to lie for monetary gain, or their situation at the time.”
The lawyers argued the witnesses “do not want to admit to the world that they consensually engaged in sexual activity with any of the Alexander brothers.”
They also asked the judge to allow them to withhold some of their cross-examination evidence until the last minute, writing, “Defendants have a right to confront witnesses with the element of surprise.”
