Several of the women who have accused Jeffrey Epstein of sexual abuse were allowed to speak Tuesday in a New York City court, where they expressed their anger and disappointment after the criminal case against the disgraced financier ended abruptly with his suicide earlier this month.

Judge Richard Berman, the federal judge who had been overseeing the case, held the hearing for the purpose of formally dropping the sex trafficking charges. Twenty-three women showed up in court, by BuzzFeeds count .

One of the women involved in the case, Courtney Wild, called Epstein a coward.

I feel very angry and sad, she said in an emotional statement, according to reports . Justice has never been served in this case.

Epstein, 66, had been awaiting trial when he was found dead in his cell at a high-security Manhattan prison facility on Aug. 10. The shocking development in an underage sex trafficking case that had already captured nationwide attention prompted several investigations into how such a high-profile inmate was left alone long enough to harm himself.

In court Tuesday, some of the women chose to withhold their names, calling themselves Jane Doe. Some gave written statements to attorneys to read on their behalf.

One Jane Doe said it felt like new trauma all over again when Epstein killed himself and thereby avoided the consequences of any misdeeds. One said the abuse she suffered led her to buy a gun and drive to an isolated place, contemplating suicide. One said that Epstein told her his abuse was helping her grow.

Another woman, Chauntae Davies, described what it was like to give Epstein a massage. (Epstein allegedly paid young girls to give him massages, during which time he would assault them.)

[B]efore I knew what was happening, he grabbed onto my wrist and tugged me towards the bed, Davies told the courtroom, later adding, I was searching for words but all I could say was, No, please stop, but that just seemed to excite him more.