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Star footballer Benjamin Mendy in December 2022 in front of the court in Chester, England
Photo: OLI SCARFF / AFP
Soccer player Benjamin Mendy has been acquitted of multiple rape charges.
After days of deliberation, a jury ruled that the 28-year-old Frenchman was innocent of six counts of rape and one of sexual assault by English champions Manchester City.
This was announced by the court in the northern English city of Chester on Friday.
The lay judges were unable to agree on a decision on two other charges of rape and attempted rape.
Therefore, from June 26th, there will be a new trial.
Four women had accused Mendy and one of his friends of raping them at parties at the city pro's home.
The men completely denied the allegations.
The process has been running since August, and a total of 13 women have filed complaints about various sexual offenses.
Return to professional football is questionable
Mendy was charged in August 2021 and then suspended by his club.
It is extremely questionable whether he can return to professional football after an acquittal.
The jury made its decision on Wednesday.
However, it was not allowed to be published until Friday so that the two attached cases could still be decided.
However, this never happened, so the court dismissed the lay judges.
aeh/dpa
