CHESTER, England – Former Manchester City footballer, Benjamin Mendy, was found not guilty of rape and attempted rape charges by a jury at Chester Crown court on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, ending a high-profile legal battle that has been ongoing for months.
The French defender had been accused of sexually assaulting a 24-year-old woman at his Cheshire home in October 2022.
Additionally, he faced charges for the alleged attempted rape of a 29-year-old woman at the same location two years earlier.
Both encounters, the court ruled, were consensual.
Mendy had staunchly denied both charges and was ultimately acquitted by a jury composed of six men and six women.
Overwhelmed by the verdict, the footballer broke down in tears as the jury foreman read out the decision, concluding a three-week trial at Chester Crown Court.
Judge Steven Everett stated, “Mr. Mendy can be discharged from the dock.”
Mendy’s contract with Manchester City, a celebrated Premier League team, expired earlier this month.
The footballer had previously faced six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving four women or teenagers at an earlier trial.
He was acquitted of these charges, but the jury failed to reach verdicts on two additional counts of rape and attempted rape, leading to the retrial that has now absolved him.
The saga of legal proceedings has shadowed the last days of Mendy’s contract with Manchester City, which officially ended on July 1, 2023.
This verdict allows the French defender to move forward from the serious allegations that had cast a cloud over his football career.
Manchester City Defender Benjamin Mendy Faces Trial for Alleged Rape
Manchester City footballer, Benjamin Mendy, stood before a jury at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, facing charges of rape and attempted rape.
The defender is accused of sexually assaulting a 24-year-old woman in October 2020 at his residence in Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire.
He allegedly told the woman, “It’s fine, I’ve had sex with 10,000 women.”
In addition to this charge, Mendy is also accused of attempting to rape another woman, who was 29 years old at the time, two years prior at the same location.
Mendy vehemently denies both charges.
The trial is presided over by Judge Stephen Everett, the Recorder of Chester, and consists of a jury of six women and six men.
It is important to note that Mendy had previously stood trial in January this year for sexual offenses alleged by other women, where he was found not guilty.
Judge Everett highlighted that the jury in the earlier trial was unable to reach verdicts concerning the two charges of rape and attempted rape that Mendy now faces in his re-trial.
Benjamin Mendy, aged 28, plays as a left-back for Manchester City Football Club and has previously represented the French national team.
His trial draws significant attention due to his high-profile status as a Premier League footballer.
As the trial proceeds, Manchester City and the wider football community will closely monitor developments.
The legal process could have serious ramifications for Mendy’s career depending on the outcome.
Manchester City Football Club has yet to release an official statement regarding Mendy’s trial.
The club is expected to uphold standards of conduct for its players and will likely address the situation based on the trial’s verdict.
The case continues at Chester Crown Court.
