English Football
Benjamin Mendy found not guilty of six counts of rape
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.
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 Benjamin 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.
Benjamin 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.
Louis Saha Matturie, 41, was also found not guilty of three counts of rape
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.”
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.
