By By Elsie Udoh
Manchester City defender, Benjamin Mendy has been found not guilty of rape charges by a UK jury.
Mendy who was accused of seven counts allegations of rape, kidnapping and sexual assault was cleared of all charges brought against him by prosecutors in the UK.
The Frenchman first came in contact with the court in 2021 after he was accused of attacking three women at his home including an underage.
Mendy was arraigned with Louis Saha Matturie of Salford who also appeared at Chester Crown Court charged with four counts of rape.
However, from the onset of the trial, the duo had pleaded not guilty and denied ever forcing any woman into sex and both said any sexual activity they had with women was consensual.
The trial however had since led to Mendy’s suspension from Manchester City with his wages withdrawn.
The trial was eventually brought to a close on Friday by Judge Steven Everett of the Chester Crown Court and Mendy as well as Matturie was found not guilty of the charges brought against them following two weeks of deliberations by the jury consisting of seven men and four women.
This is not the end of the ‘trial road’ for Mendy however as he is faced with a retrial which is expected to begin June 26 and last two weeks, according to THE MIRROR.
A statement on the latest development by Mendy’s club reads: “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.”
