Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy has been found not guilty of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
Jurors could not reach verdicts on one count of rape and one of attempted rape, following a six-month trial at Chester Crown Court.
The prosecution sought a retrial on those counts and it has been scheduled for 26 June.
Louis Saha Matturie, 41, was also found not guilty of three counts of rape.
Jurors failed to reach verdicts on three counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault against him.
Mr Benjamin Mendy and his friend Mr Matturie had been accused of raping women at the player’s home in Prestbury, Cheshire, and at a Manchester flat.
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Prosecutors told the jury Mr Mendy was a “predator” who turned the pursuit of women for sex into a game.
But jurors were also told by defence lawyers that while the trial, involving money, sex and celebrity, had “all the makings of a good drama”, it came with a significant “plot twist” – that the accused were innocent.
Mr Mendy covered his face with both hands as the jury foreman repeated “not guilty” to the six counts, which related to four young women or teenagers.
The unanimous verdicts were delivered on Wednesday by the seven men and four women on the jury, one juror having been discharged earlier for medical reasons.
The verdicts could not be reported until jurors concluded considering the remaining two counts, after they were given a majority direction by Judge Steven Everett, meaning he would accept a 10-1 majority on any verdict.
But after 14 days of deliberation, jurors could not reach verdicts on Mr Mendy’s alleged attempted rape of a woman, 29, in 2018 and the alleged rape of another woman, 24, in October 2020.
Judge Everett discharged the jury on Friday, ending the trial.
Both men had been on trial since 10 August, accused by 13 women of multiple sexual offences.
Lockdown-busting parties were held both at Mr Mendy’s home and an apartment he rented on Chapel Street near Manchester city centre, the court heard.
‘Absolute hell’
He was first arrested in November 2020 and was suspended by his club in August 2021, after he was charged with rape.
The prosecution has sought a retrial on the two counts the jury failed to reach a verdict on.
Matthew Conway, prosecuting, said: “The prosecution has made a decision. We have made a decision today, which is to proceed on these counts in two separate trials and we seek today a provisional case management.”
A statement from Manchester City said: “Given there are open matters related to this case, the club is not in a position to comment further at this time.”
The allegations and trial had been “absolute hell” for Mr Mendy, the court heard, with his life in football “over” as he would “never escape” the accusations.
SOURCE: BBCNEWS
