In 2021, Benjamin Mendy’s life changed completely. While playing for Manchester City, the former OM defender was accused of raping and assaulting seven women “vulnerable, terrified and isolated”, between October 2018 and August 2021. Faced with these serious accusations, the English club decided to completely remove the player from the workforce during the investigation and the trial. The player had always denied the facts explaining having been trapped or having had consensual relations.
After investigation, several hearings took place over several months at the court in Chester (United Kingdom). The press revealed some chilling victim testimonies while the player kept claiming his innocence. Finally last December, a first bomb fell. After studying the testimonies and conducting the investigation, the justice declared him not guilty of six rapes and a sexual assault last January. A decision taken after five months of hearing and fourteen days of deliberation. But it wasn’t over.
Benjamin Mendy broke down in tears
There then remained two other charges that justice had failed to judge. And a new trial was held this Friday in Chester to finally complete this trial. After three more hours of deliberation by the Chester jury, the decision was announced as revealed by AFP: Benjamin Mendy was found not guilty of these two charges of rape and attempted rape. The end of a long soap opera for the player who collapsed in tears in the dock, according to the DailyMail.
After this decision, the player’s lawyers came out of silence explaining that he would now try to “rebuild your life”. The English press evokes a probable return to high level football when he has not walked on a lawn for almost 3 years. He is also coming to the end of his contract with Manchester City. But this story will definitely leave indelible marks.
