In a recent retrial, Benjamin Mendy, a former player of Manchester City in the English Premier League, has been acquitted of the charges of rape and attempted rape.
With tears streaming down his face, Benjamin Mendy, 28, received the verdicts from the jury after a three-week trial at Chester Crown Court in northwest England. While he initially stood for the pronouncement, he soon collapsed into his seat, burying his head in his knees and using a tissue to wipe away his tears.
The French international with Côte d’Ivoire roots, has been declared not guilty of attempting to rape a 29-year-old woman at his residence in October 2018. Furthermore, he has also been acquitted of the rape charges involving a second woman, aged 24, which allegedly occurred at the same address two years later.
Maintaining his innocence, Benjamin Mendy firmly denied all accusations, asserting that the encounters were entirely consensual. After deliberating for over three hours, the jury consisting of six men and six women delivered their verdicts.
Earlier this year, Benjamin Mendy was cleared of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, which involved four young women or teenagers, following a six-month trial. Nevertheless, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on two counts, specifically the charges of rape and attempted rape, necessitating the retrial.
Benjamin Mendy was given a six-year contract at Manchester City when he signed for the club in 2017 and was released when his contract expired in June 2023. The club stopped paying his wages, more than £100,000 a week in 2021 after the defender was charged with a string of sex offences.
Jenny Wiltshire, Mendy’s lawyer told reporters outside the court, “It has been almost three years since the police started investigating this matter. Mr. Mendy has tried to remain strong but the process has, inevitably, had a serious impact on him,” said Jenny Wiltshire, Mendy’s lawyer, outside the court.
“He thanks everyone who has supported him throughout this ordeal and now asks for privacy so he can begin rebuilding his life.”
