Former Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy has been cleared of charges of raping a 24-year-old woman and attempting to rape another woman aged 29. The verdicts were delivered by the jury at Chester Crown Court following a three-week trial. Mendy, visibly emotional, broke down in tears upon hearing the not guilty verdicts.
In a previous trial, Mendy was cleared of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault related to four young women or teenagers. However, the jury was unable to reach verdicts on two counts of rape and attempted rape, leading to a retrial.
During the trial, the prosecution claimed that Mendy had taken advantage of female guests at parties held at his home due to his wealth and celebrity status, making him unaccustomed to being refused. One complainant, referred to as woman A, alleged that Mendy attempted to rape her on a bed after she had repeatedly told him to stop. The second complainant, woman B, claimed that Mendy raped her after inviting her to his locked bedroom and telling her to undress.
Mendy denied the allegations and provided a different account of the events. He stated that he and woman A were flirting during a night out, and the next morning, they engaged in consensual hugging on a bed. He denied attempting to rape her. Regarding woman B, Mendy claimed that they engaged in consensual activities on the bed, and afterwards, they exchanged contact details to connect on Snapchat.
Mendy’s solicitor expressed gratitude to the jury for focusing on the evidence presented in the trial rather than rumors and innuendo. Mendy was relieved that both juries reached the correct verdicts. His solicitor emphasized the impact the trial had on him and requested respect for his privacy as he seeks to rebuild his life.
