Six months after having already been acquitted of six other charges of rape and one of sexual assault, Benjamin Mendy was fully acquitted after a second trial for sexual assault this Friday, July 14, 2023, in Chester, in the north-west from England. A happy epilogue for the footballer after an endless legal history. As a reminder, Benjamin Mendy had been imprisoned at the end of August 2021 and had spent more than four months in pre-trial detention, before being released at the beginning of January 2022, and placed under judicial supervision pending his first trial. After four months of hearing, the jury (composed of eight men and four women), declared him not guilty of six rapes and one sexual assault. Endless discussions which had also had to be interrupted many times due to Covid-19. Waiting for, this defender with 10 selections with the Blues, had been suspended by Manchester City who had not renewed his contract. The footballer, however, did not claim victory when the verdict fell. Two charges, one for the rape of a 24-year-old woman in October 2020 and another for the attempted rape of a 29-year-old woman two years earlier, still hung over him. Charges that he strongly contested, ensuring that these relationships, which took place at his home, were consented to.
See also: The Youtubeur Norman Thavaud placed in police custody for acts of rape
Benjamin Mendy wants to “thank the members of the jury”
The judge’s decision finally fell this Friday, July 14, 2023 after a second trial in Chester court. Acquitted unanimouslythe former glory of Manchester City shed tears of joy and relief as he left the hearing. “He is pleased that both juries returned correct verdicts”said his lawyer Jenny Wiltshire.
Aged 28, Benjamin Mendy burst into tears during the statement of the verdict, at the end of these three weeks of trial and a little more than three hours of deliberation. Benjamin Mendy wants “thank the members of the jury” (six women and six men)”for focusing on the evidence in this trial rather than the rumors and innuendo that have accompanied this case from the start,” his lawyers said after the verdict, pointing out the “serious impact” of this procedure on him and his career. Formerly trained in Le Havre, revealed in Marseille and spent by Monaco for a season, Benjamin Mendy became the most expensive defender in history in 2017 when the Citizens paid 52 million pounds (about 61.4 million euros) for secure his services.
“Benjamin Mendy struggled to stay strong, but the proceedings inevitably took a big toll on him. He thanks everyone who supported him through this ordeal and now asks for his privacy to be respected so he can begin to rebuild his life.”, said his lawyer. On leaving the court, the footballer began by passing a call to his friend Paul Pogba who has given him his unfailing support since the start of the affair. A strong exchange that the world champion shared from his Instagram account “Al Hamdullilah. So happy for you brother… All those who used to talk badly about you, now I want to see them clear your name. I can’t wait to see you back on the pitch (…)”.
VF