Benjamin Mendy: The jury in the rape case involving the Manchester City defender has retired to deliberate on a befitting judgement for the alleged rapist.
Since August 10, Mendy, 28, and Louis Saha Matturie, his co-accused, have been on trial at Chester Crown Court for several sex offenses against young women. All offenses are denied by both men.
Eight men and four women on the jury were instructed by Chester Recorder Judge Steven Everett to return to court on December 19 to resume deliberations if verdicts were not reached this week and the court was not in session on Friday or the following week.
‘There is no pressure of time,’ he added. ‘Don’t feel under any pressure.’
Mendy is accused of being a sexual “predator” of young girls who were sexually abused or raped at his £4.7 million mansion, The Spinney, near Prestbury in Cheshire, during nightclub “after parties,” according to the prosecution.
The footballer’s buddy and “fixer,” Matturie, is accused of arranging for ladies to attend the parties following evenings spent drinking in VIP areas of Manchester nightclubs.
The defendants were charged of sexual offenses by thirteen different women.
After a “sex tape” showed one of the women engaging in “willing” sex with Matturie during the time she claimed he had raped her surfaced, the judge instructed the jury to find the defendants not guilty on all counts relating to that woman. This came after the trial had already begun.
Mendy admitted to the jury that he now regrets his wild lifestyle, but he denied ever pressuring a lady into having sex.
Matturie declined to testify but also insists that he did nothing wrong. Both accused claim that any sexual activity with women was voluntary.
Mendy contests the allegations of six young women being sexually assaulted, one attempted rape, and seven cases of rape.
Matturie, of Eccles, Salford, denies three counts of sexual assault and six counts of rape involving seven young women.
Benjamin Mendy
French professional footballer Benjamin Mendy (born 17 July 1994) most recently played as a left-back for Premier League team Manchester City. From 2017 until 2019, he wore the France national team’s uniform.
Mendy started his playing career in 2010 with the club’s reserve team after graduating from Le Havre’s development program. A year later, he was promoted to the first squad.
He stayed with the organization until 2013, when he switched to Marseille of Ligue 1. Mendy played with Les Olympiens for the following three seasons before moving on to Monaco, where he won the national championship in 2016–17.
Mendy transferred to English club Manchester City in the summer of 2017 for a then-record transfer fee for a defender.
In his succeeding first season in England, he won the Premier League.
After being capped by France youth teams at the under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19, and under-21 levels, Mendy made his senior debut for France in 2017. He was chosen for the France team that competed in and won the 2018 World Cup.
Why Is Mendy Not Playing For Manchester City?
Manchester City suspended Mendy in August 2021 after he was accused of sexual offenses. He entered a not guilty plea in May 2022 to seven rape, one sexual assault, and one attempted rape accusations involving six complainants.
On August 10, 2022, the trial got underway in Chester Crown Court. Mendy was accused of sexual assault, one attempted rape, and eight rapes. He entered a not guilty plea to every accusation.
Eight men and six women, along with two alternates, made up the jury, which had to attest that none of its members had any link to Manchester City, Manchester United, or the police.
Mendy was cleared of one count of rape against a 19-year-old woman on September 13, 2022. After the prosecution chose not to pursue a guilty conviction on the one count, Judge Stephen Everett instructed the jury to return a not guilty verdict.
The trial goes on as the jury commenced deliberation on the available facts.
