In today’s domestic assault trial for Ryan Giggs, the judge cautioned the jury to “put aside any feelings of pity” when deciding whether witnesses appeared upset throughout their testimony.
Judge Hilary Manley outlined the jury’s conclusions in her summary of the case, notably mentioning the former Manchester United player and his ex-girlfriend Kate Greville.
Giggs is charged with assaulting Ms. Greville and employing coercive and controlling behaviour. He is also accused of attacking Emma Greville, the sister of Ms. Greville. He disputes every accusation.
Additionally, the judge informed the jury that Giggs has never been convicted or received a warning, describing him as “a guy of good character.”
Controlling behaviour is a term that needs no additional explanation, she continued.
Coercive behaviour is when one person forces or coerces another person into doing or not doing something or into acting in a certain way.
Examples of this include the use of force, intimidation, and threats. The defendant’s actions may have been planned or motivated by a desire to keep control over Kate Greville or to compel her to behave in a particular way.
“You must be certain that his actions amounted to controlling or coercive behaviour or that he frequently or consistently acted in that manner.”
The defence argues that he did not engage in any way that could be seen as coercive or controlling.
During his discussion of the alleged events in Dubai, Judge Manley stated: “Ms Greville alleges the defendant was aggressive with her and that he threw her out of a room at the Westin Hotel naked…and the defendant started an argument in the hotel room, ordered her to leave, and pulled her handbag on her arm, bruising her wrist.”
The defence claims that there was absolutely no hostility or violence.
Even though the occurrences occurred outside of the jurisdiction, the prosecution claims that they are evidence of controlling and coercive behaviour and that they are significant events.
According to her, the jury must assess whether purported events that allegedly occurred in England are proven before convicting Giggs.
When discussing the assault allegations, Judge Manley said: “[It is alleged] that the defendant intentionally headbutted Kate Greville, causing her to have a lip injury. The defendant claims that any facial contact was unintentional and happened during an altercation over her mobile phone.
“The purposeful use of force by the defendant against another person constitutes an assault,” says the law. Describe ABH. ABH refers to any harm brought on by the attack.
“The prosecution must demonstrate to you that he purposefully headbutted Kate Greville in the face, causing harm to her lip.”
“Assault by beating” refers to the claim that during the initial altercation between him and Kate Greville, the defendant purposefully elbowed Emma Greville as she attempted to yank him away from her sister.
The defendant claims that, if Emma Greville had been present, he would not have elbowed her as claimed because he was unaware of her presence. It was unintentional and actually happened by accident.
The prosecution must demonstrate that the defendant used unlawful force with malice or recklessness. The injury need not be caused; unlawful force is the problem.
Alcohol was a topic Judge Manley addressed in the case.
She claimed that while it was acknowledged by both the prosecution and the defence that Giggs and Ms. Greville had consumed alcohol on the evening of November, Giggs did not claim that drinking had a negative impact on his behaviour.
In any case, she claimed, that wouldn’t give him a defence.
The judge further stated that the jury could consider Giggs’ prior excellent character and lack of prior convictions. She stated that this was a “positive attribute” and that his decent character made it “less likely” that he committed the crimes for which he was accused.
It follows the reading out in court last week of chilling communications he sent to her. It blows my mind that your last name is Greville, to provide one instance. It rhymes with [Gary] Neville, one of my closest friends, and Breville, my favourite toast maker; these are the things that set us apart.
According to Karen Baird, the president of his football club, Giggs once danced on a chair with former Man United teammate Neville during a wild Christmas party.
A message from a smitten Giggs to Ms. Greville on Friday read in court: “You are the jam in my doughnut, the truffle in my pasta, and the salt in my tequila.”
Additionally, he said she was like Fort Knox because of its abundance of gold.
In a different conversation, Giggs informed Ms. Greville that he had prepared “scrambled eggs a la chef Giggsy” for breakfast and sent his ex the message, “I think you’re fandabidozi.”
Giggs also created an acrostic poem utilizing the first letters of Ms. Greville’s last name, substituting the words “Gorgeous,” “Vivacious,” and “Everything I’ve Ever Wanted” for the letters G, V, and E, respectively.
Sir Alex Ferguson, who was Giggs’ former manager at Manchester United, testified in the trial on Friday. He described how he would make the player an example in the locker room but said that he had never witnessed the player get “angry or confrontational.”
When angry with his team’s performance, the great former football manager, 80, who oversaw Giggs for the large bulk of his career, stated he would give the Welsh midfielder the “sharp end of my tongue.”
The stern Scottish manager insisted, though, “I knew he could take it.” He also described his former player’s disposition as “amazing” while testifying in the domestic abuse prosecution of Giggs.
Giggs is accused of “headbutting” his ex-girlfriend Ms Greville after an argument at his £1.7 million property in Worsley, Greater Manchester, in November 2020. On Friday, Sir Alex spoke as a character witness for Giggs at Manchester Crown Court.
The former Wales midfielder is also accused of using coercive and controlling behaviour toward his ex-girlfriend while also allegedly hitting Ms. Greville’s sister, Emma, during the same argument. He is being tried and is denying the accusations.
Despite playing at the highest level of football under him, Sir Alex, who today testified as a character witness for Giggs, said that the player had a “great, amazing temperament” and never became “angry or confrontational.”
He claimed to have known him since he was 13 and that he was one of the most well-mannered athletes he had ever worked with, both on and off the field.
When I first met him, he was playing for a local team and working out at Manchester City’s facility, according to Sir Alex. We made a lot of effort to convince him to visit Clifton (Manchester United’s practice facility).
He once came to us with his father, and after that, we started going to his house to try to persuade him to join Manchester United.
During his about ten minutes on the witness stand, Sir Alex claimed that he frequently went to Giggs’ house with Archie Knox, his assistant at the time.
Our primary point of contact was Ryan’s mother, he continued. She handled everything admirably. Ryan was a shy child who simply listened to what his mother was saying as he sat there.
Giggs joined Manchester United, and Sir Alex, who was dressed in a grey suit, a white shirt, and a purple tie, said in court that he personally took him under his wing once he made the first team at the age of 17.
He was being compared to George Best, Sir Alex remarked. He was the subject of extensive media coverage. Being his manager, I saw him every day. The boy was wonderful; he presented no issues.