Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein ‘kills himself in cell’ awaiting sex trafficking trial

Billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein is believed to have killed himself in a New York prison cell, according to reports.

His body was found on Saturday at 7.30am local time (11.30am GMT) at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, in Manhattan.

Epstein, 66, had been accused of sex trafficking underage girls in the early 2000s and was arrested on July 6.

He had pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and conspiracy charges and was being held without bail but a judge said he wouldn’t face trial before June 2020.

The businessman had been accused of arranging to have sex with girls as young as age 14 at his residences in Manhattan and Florida.

News of his death comes a day after unsealed US documents revealed the extent of his alleged abuse on young teenagers at his Palm Beach, New York and the Virgin Islands homes.

Just days ago he was found almost unconscious with neck injuries, reported US media, however it had not been confirmed whether it was self-inflicted or if he had been attacked by an inmate.

According to ABC News, three officials confirmed that he died by suicide.

However, the official cause of death has not yet been announced.