Manchester — Wednesday, the jury in the trial of former Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs was discharged after failing to reach a verdict on charges he assaulted and manipulated his then-girlfriend.
Giggs, 48, was charged with giving Kate Greville real bodily harm and controlling and coercive behavior. He was also accused of assaulting Emma, Greville’s sister.
The jury of seven women and four men informed the judge that they were unable to reach a verdict after more than three weeks of deliberation.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has seven days to decide whether a retrial will be pursued.
Giggs was informed by Judge Hilary Manley that a retrial may not occur until June of next year. Giggs has been released on bail pending a decision by the CPS.
Giggs, the former manager of Wales, pled not guilty to the charges, and his defense stated that the accusations were “based on distortion, exaggeration, and fabrication.”
The former Manchester United footballer was initially detained and released on bail in November of 2020.
Peter Wright QC, for the prosecution, stated that the case contained “a litany of physical and psychological abuse of a woman he claimed to love.”
This case involves the systematic and at times violent mistreatment of a woman, while constantly preying on her.
The prosecutor recalled an incident in which Giggs struck Greville with a headbutt and “deliberately elbowed” her sister.
Chris Daw QC, who represented Giggs, stated that he “never once used unlawful violence against Kate Greville” and that the two “acted like squabbling toddlers.”
He said Giggs admitted there was “minimal and inadvertent touch” during a scuffle over a cell phone, but denied there was a purposeful headbutt and said it was “not even slightly a criminal attack.”
Giggs was replaced as manager of Wales following his original resignation in late 2020 due to the case.
Rob Page has taken charge of the team that has qualified for the World Cup finals in Qatar in November.
Giggs made 963 games for United over 23 years, a club record, and won 13 Premier League crowns and two Champions League trophies, among other accolades.
He represented Wales 64 times from 1991 to 2007 and assumed the position of national coach in 2018.