Jul 14, 2023 at 3:22 PM BST
Updated 2 minutes ago
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The France international was under contract with Manchester City until July 1
Former Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy has been cleared of charges of raping a woman and attempting to rape another.
The 28-year-old has been accused of assaulting a 24-year-old woman at his £4million mansion in Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire, in October 2020.
Mr Mendy was also accused of attempting to rape another 29-year-old woman, who said he also molested her at his home two years earlier.
This comes after he was acquitted of six counts of rape at a previous trial in January.
The France international broke down in tears as the jury foreman read the acquittals after a three-week trial at Chester Crown Court.
The jury of six men and six women deliberated for about three hours and 15 minutes before coming to their conclusion.
Judge Steven Everett said, “Mr. Mendy may be released from the dock.”
The footballer, whose contract with Manchester City expired earlier this month, was acquitted in the earlier trial of six counts of rape and one sexual assault involving four young women or teenagers.
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The jury of six men and six women deliberated for approximately three hours and 15 minutes at Chester Crown Court
However, the jury failed to reach a verdict in two counts of rape and attempted rape, leading to a retrial.
During the trial, Mr. Mendy recounted how he slept with more than 10,000 women.
Prosecutor Benjamin Aina KC claimed he enjoyed parties at his home and on two occasions “exploited” female guests, while his wealth and celebrity status made him a man unaccustomed to saying “no.”
After the hearing, his attorney, Jenny Wiltshire, said: “Benjamin Mendy would like to thank the members of the jury for focusing on the evidence in this trial and not on the rumors and innuendos that have accompanied this case from the beginning.”
“This is the second time that Mr Mendy has been tried by a jury and found not guilty. He is pleased that both juries came to the correct verdicts.”
She said Mr Mendy was “trying to stay strong” but the trial had “inevitably had a serious impact on him”.
He now wants to ask that his privacy be respected “so that he can start rebuilding his life,” Mr Wiltshire added.