MX23RW : Thursday, November 14 04:38:19| >> :120:19161:19161:

Manchester City's Benjamin Mendy found not guilty of six counts of rape

Benjamin Mendy found not guilty of six counts of rape
© Reuters
Manchester City's Benjamin Mendy is found not guilty of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, but will face a retrial on two outstanding charges.

Manchester City's Benjamin Mendy has been found not guilty of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, but will face a retrial on two outstanding charges.

After a trial lasting around six months, the 28-year-old has been cleared of seven of the nine charges against him, with the jury at Chester Crown Court unable to reach verdicts on two other charges.

Mendy's friend Louis Saha Matturie, 41, was also accused of various sex offences against young women and was found not guilty of three counts of rape.

Mendy covered his face with both hands while sat in a hushed courtroom, gently rocking back and forth, as the jury foreman repeated "not guilty" to the six counts 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 that he would accept a 10-1 majority on any verdict.

The jury was discharged by Judge Everett on Friday after more than 60 hours of deliberations over 14 days.

Mendy's retrial is due to take place on June 26 following discussions with lawyers.

A statement from Man City read: "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."

Man City suspended Mendy when he was arrested in August 2021 and they stopped paying him in September 2021.

The Frenchman, who was signed by the Premier League club for a reported £52m in 2017, will see his contract expire this summer.

ID:504138:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect2326:

Click here for more stories about Benjamin Mendy

Click here for more stories about Manchester City

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Benjamin Mendy pictured leaving Chester Crown Court on February 2, 2022
Read Next:
Benjamin Mendy faces new attempted rape charges
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!