Mueez Ajao
– Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy has been found not guilty of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
– Jurors could not reach verdicts on one count of rape and one of attempted rape, following a six-month trial at Chester Crown Court.
– The prosecution sought a retrial on those counts and it has been scheduled for 26 June.
Also Read: Man City’s Mendy cleared of one count of rape as trial continues
– Louis Saha Matturie, 41, was also found not guilty of three counts of rape.
– Jurors failed to reach verdicts on three counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault against him.
– Mr Mendy and his friend Mr Matturie had been accused of raping and women at the player’s home in Prestbury, Cheshire, and at a Manchester flat.
– Prosecutors told the jury Mr Mendy was a “predator” who turned the pursuit of women for sex into a game.
– But jurors were also told by defence lawyers that while the trial, involving money, sex and celebrity, had “all the makings of a good drama”, it came with a significant “plot twist” – that the accused were innocent.
– Mr Mendy covered his face with both hands as the jury foreman repeated “not guilty” to the six counts, which related to four young women or teenagers.
– The unanimous verdicts were delivered on Wednesday by the seven men and four women on the jury, one juror having been discharged earlier for medical reasons.
– The verdicts could not be reported until jurors concluded considering the remaining two counts, after they were given a majority direction by Judge Steven Everett, meaning he would accept a 10-1 majority on any verdict.
– But after 14 days of deliberation, jurors could not reach verdicts on Mr Mendy’s alleged attempted rape of a woman, 29, in 2018 and the alleged rape of another woman, 24, in October 2020.
– Judge Everett discharged the jury on Friday, ending the trial.
– Both men had been on trial since 10 August, accused of multiple sexual offences by 13 women.
– Matthew Conway, prosecuting, said the prosecution would seek a retrial on the counts the jury could not reach verdicts on.
– He said: “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.”
– A statement from Manchester City said: “Given there are open matters related to this case, the club is not in a position to comment further at this time.”
Club statement
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 13, 2023
– The allegations and trial had been “absolute hell” for Mr Mendy, the court heard, with his life in football “over” as he would “never escape” the accusations.
