Footballer Benjamin Mendy has been discovered not responsible of raping girls at his gated Cheshire Mansion.
The 28-year-old French worldwide defender had been referred to as a “predator” who “turned the pursuit of women for sex into a game” in court docket.
However, a jury discovered that Mendy was not responsible of six counts of rape and one rely of sexual assault whereas jurors couldn’t attain verdicts on one rely of rape and certainly one of tried rape, following a six-month trial at Chester Crown Court.
In the trial, Mendy’s defence lawyer had referred to as on the jury to doubt the testimony of the ladies who accused the footballer of rape, saying: “These accusations, he will never escape… men who have been falsely accused, they never escape them.”
His pal and co-accused Louis Saha Matturie, 41, was additionally discovered not responsible by the jury of three counts of rape relating to 2 youngsters. Jurors additionally failed to achieve verdicts on three counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault towards him by 5 different girls.
The jury within the rape trial towards the Manchester City footballer was given a majority path by decide Steven Evertett.
Judge Steven Everett thanked jurors and excused them from jury service for seven years.
Matthew Conway, prosecuting, stated the prosecution will search a retrial on the counts the jury couldn’t attain verdicts on.
He stated: “The prosecution has made a decision. We have made a decision today, which is to proceed on these counts in two separate trials and we seek today a provisional case management.”
Benjamin Mendy made ‘monumental mistakes’, his defence stated
(AFP by way of Getty Images)
A re-trial for Benjamin Mendy, at Chester, lasting two to 3 weeks has been set for 26 June.
Earlier, Judge Everett introduced jurors again into court docket and requested if they might attain additional verdicts if given extra time.
The foreman of the jury replied: “No. We are at a point now where we can’t agree.”
Judge Everett informed them: “It is not unusual that jurors don’t reach verdicts on some counts. You have to be true to your duty.”
Mendy nodded as he was informed by the decide there might be a pre-trial listening to on 27 January and he’ll go on trial on 26 June.
Mendy is “delighted” to have been cleared of intercourse assaults on 4 girls and “looks forward” to clearing his title at a re-trial over two different allegations and “rebuilding his life”, his lawyer stated.
Jenny Wiltshire, of Hickman & Rose, stated: “My client Benjamin Mendy would like to thank the members of the jury for their dedication and commitment.
“He also thanks everyone who supported him, and particularly the witnesses who gave evidence on his behalf in the glare of such intense publicity.”
She stated he was “delighted that he has been unanimously acquitted” of a lot of the prices he confronted.
Prosecutors alleged that Mendy was a “predator” who “turned the pursuit of women for sex into a game”. They stated that Matturie, the footballer’s pal and fixer, had the job of discovering younger girls for intercourse. The court docket heard that Mendy met most of the girls in Manchester nightclubs earlier than he and Matturie introduced them again to his mansion for after-parties.
Louis Matturie was Mendy’s ‘fixer’, the trial heard
(Getty Images)
Some of the ladies had their telephones taken off them on arrival to the home and the closest village, Prestbury, was a 15-minute stroll away alongside an unlit lane, the court docket heard.
Both males stated that if any intercourse did happen then it was consensual.
During the trial, Mendy was discovered not responsible of 1 rely of rape on the path of the decide after a video emerged of the complainant having “enthusiastic sex” with Matturie, after she had claimed to have been raped by him.
Matturie was cleared of two counts of rape and certainly one of sexual assault towards the identical girls after the prosecution supplied no additional proof towards the defendants.
Mendy was on trial for seven counts of rape, one rely of tried rape and one rely of sexual assault towards six younger girls.
Matturie’s prices included six counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault referring to seven younger girls.
The alleged offences by Mendy are stated to have taken place on the mansion in Mottram St Andrew between October 2018 and 2021.
A press release from Mendy’s membership stated: “Manchester City FC notes the verdict from Chester Crown Court today where a jury has found Benjamin Mendy not guilty of seven charges.
“The jury is hung on two charges and the trial is now over.
“Given there are open matters related to this case, the club is not in a position to comment further at this time.”
