Benjamin Mendy found not guilty for seven of nine charges against him, but faces retrial for two counts as jurors couldn’t reach majority.
After a trial which has gone on for almost five months, the Manchester City defender has been cleared of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
However, after 13 days of deliberation at Chester Crown Court, the jury couldn’t reach verdicts on two other charges against Mendy.
One count of rape, involving a woman aged 24 in October 2020, and another count of attempted rape, involving a woman aged 29 in October 2018.
Gary Cotterill has the latest update from the Benjamin Mendy trial.
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The Crown Prosecution Service has seven days to decide whether to pursue a retrial on the two charges where a verdict couldn’t be agreed with Mendy seen having his head in his hands as the verdicts were read out.
Mendy’s co-accused, Louis Saha Matturie, was also found not guilty of three charges.
He faces a possible retrial on six charges.
Manchester City suspended the player when he was arrested in August 2021 and stopped paying him in September 2021. His contract expires the summer of 2023.
Mendy and Matturie face separate retrials, the latter’s trial is due to start on the week commencing the 18th of September, with a pre-trial review set for March 24.
The court has heard that Mendy’s retrial will take place on the 26th of June, and is expected to last two to three weeks. He is also due to attend court for a pre trial review on the 27th of January.
In a statement, Man City said: “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.”
Benjamin Mendy found not guilty of seven of nine charges but faces retrial
Matthew Conway, prosecuting, 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.”
The allegations and trial had been “absolute hell” for Mendy, the court heard, and his life in football “is over” as he would “never escape” the accusations that come his way.
SEE MORE: Man City’s Benjamin Mendy opens up to court on what life is like in prison and behind bars
All of the verdicts delivered by the jury (via Manchester Evening News)
Count 1 – Benjamin Mendy accused of attempting to rape Woman One in October 2018 – failed to reach a verdict
Count 2 – Benjamin Mendy accused of raping Woman Two in October 2020 – failed to reach a verdict
Count 3 – Benjamin Mendy accused of raping Woman Two in October 2020 – NOT GUILTY
Count 4 – Benjamin Mendy accused of raping Woman Two in October 2020 – NOT GUILTY
Count 5 – Benjamin Mendy accused of sexually assaulting Woman Three in January 2021 – NOT GUILTY
Count 6 – Benjamin Mendy accused of raping Woman Four in July 2021 – NOT GUILTY
Count 7 – Benjamin Mendy accused of raping Woman Six in July 2021 – NOT GUILTY
Count 8 – Benjamin Mendy accused of raping Woman Seven in July 2021 – previously found NOT GUILTY
Count 9 – Benjamin Mendy accused of raping Woman Ten in August 2021 – NOT GUILTY
Count 10 – Benjamin Mendy accused of raping Woman Ten in August 2021 – NOT GUILTY
Count 11 – Louis Saha Matturie accused of raping Woman Thirteen in 2012 – NOT GUILTY
Count 12 – Louis Saha Matturie accused of sexually assaulting Woman Twelve in 2016 – failed to reach a verdict
Count 13 – Louis Saha Matturie accused of raping Woman Eight in March 2021 – failed to reach a verdict
Count 14 – Louis Saha Matturie accused of sexually assaulting Woman Nine in April 2021 – failed to reach a verdict
Count 15 – Louis Saha Matturie accused of raping Woman Nine in April 2021 – failed to reach a verdict
Count 16 – Louis Saha Matturie accused of sexually assaulting Woman Five in July 2021 – failed to reach a verdict
Count 17 – Louis Saha Matturie accused of raping Woman Seven in July 2021 – previously found NOT GUILTY
Count 18 – Louis Saha Matturie accused of raping Woman Seven in August 2021 – previously found NOT GUILTY
Count 19 – Louis Saha Matturie accused of sexually assaulting Woman Seven in August 2021 – previously found NOT GUILTY
Count 20 – Louis Saha Matturie accused of raping Woman Eleven in August 2021 – failed to reach a verdict
Count 21 – Louis Saha Matturie accused of raping Woman Ten in August 2021 – NOT GUILTY
Count 22 – Louis Saha Matturie accused of raping Woman Ten in August 2021 – NOT GUILTY
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