…By Larry John for TDPel Media.
Benjamin Mendy, the former Manchester City defender, has been found not guilty of rape and attempted rape charges by a jury at Chester Crown Court.
The charges were related to separate incidents involving a 24-year-old woman in October 2020 and a 29-year-old woman two years prior.
Denial of Charges and Consensual Encounters
Throughout the trial, Mendy vehemently denied both charges and asserted that the encounters had been consensual.
Earlier this year, the footballer had already been found not guilty of sexual offenses against several women, although the jury had been unable to reach verdicts on the two charges at that time.
Details of the Alleged Incidents
According to the prosecution, Mendy would host parties and social gatherings at his Cheshire home, known as The Spinney, while playing for Manchester City.
One incident involved a British student whom Mendy had met in a nightclub in Barcelona in 2017.
She alleged that after a night out, Mendy attempted to rape her.
Mendy, on the other hand, stated that he had asked for consent, and upon her refusal, he respected her decision and left the room.
In another incident two years later, a woman who had been at a bar near Mendy’s home claimed that he took her phone, led her to a locked bedroom, and subsequently raped her.
Mendy, however, maintained that the encounter was consensual and they had exchanged details on Snapchat afterward.
Mendy’s Football Career and Release from Manchester City
Benjamin Mendy, who became the Premier League’s most expensive defender when Manchester City signed him for £52 million from Monaco in 2017, enjoyed success with the club, winning three titles and being part of France’s World Cup-winning squad in 2018.
However, his contract with Manchester City expired at the end of June, and he was subsequently released by the club.
Reactions and Solicitor’s Statement
After the verdict, Mendy’s solicitor expressed gratitude to the jury for focusing on the evidence presented during the trial.
The solicitor highlighted that this was the second time Mendy had been tried and found not guilty by a jury, emphasizing the footballer’s satisfaction with the correct verdict being reached.