Former self-help guru Keith Raniere goes on trial on Tuesday on charges of running a secretive New York sex cult that recruited female ‘slaves’ who were then starved, branded with his initials and blackmailed into having sex with him. Jurors have been warned to expect disturbing testimony and evidence during a trial that could run six weeks. Mack and Bronfman are among five co-defendants, all women accused of involvement in Nxivm, who pleaded guilty to various charges in March and April, leaving Raniere as the sole person to face trial. Bronfman, who provided key financial support for Nxivm, pleaded guilty in April and agreed to forfeit $6 million. The trial caps a bizarre saga for Raniere, who was arrested in March 2018 after fleeing to Mexico with Bronfman.

Source: Hindustan Times May 07, 2019 13:41 UTC