Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy has been found not guilty of seven counts allegations of rape, kidnapping and sexual assault brought against him by prosecutors in the UK.
The 28-year-old Mendy has always maintained his innocence in the allegations.
Mendy, who last played for City in August 2021, was found not guilty of five rape charges, one count of attempted rape and a count of sexual assault after two weeks of deliberations by jury consisting of seven men and four women.
Judge Steven Everett of the Chester Crown Court brought the six-month trial to a close on Friday after the jury were unable to reach unanimous verdicts on some other charges, with Jude Everett earlier affirming on Wednesday that he wouldn’t accept a majority decision.
Mendy’s co-defendant Louis Saha Matturie, 41, was also found not guilty of three counts of rape relating to two teenagers.
However, the legal battle is not yet over for Mendy as a retrial could possibly be happening soon after the jury were unable to reach verdicts on two counts relating to rape, with Matthew Conway, representing the prosecution, saying a retrial would be sought for those charges.
“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,” Mr Conway said.
According to UK-based outlet, Mirror, following an agreement between the prosecution, June 26 has been chosen for the retrial to begin, which is expected to last for at least two weeks.
A statement on the latest development by his club reads: “Manchester City FC notes the verdict from Chester Crown Court today, where a jury has found Benjamin Mendy not guilty of seven charges. The jury is hung on two charges and the trial is now over.
“Given there are open matters related to this case, the Club is not in a position to comment further at this time.”
City stopped paying the wages of the French international immediately after his suspension in 2021.
