Benjamin Mendy trial: the jury retired to deliberate

The 28-year-old French defender, suspended for more than a year by Manchester City, has been on trial since early August.

Accused of seven rapes, an attempted rape and a sexual assault, he risks life imprisonment.

After having heard the conclusions of the judge of the court of Chester (north of England), the eight men and four women members of the jury must now render their verdict.

If they fail to reach a decision this week, deliberations will resume on December 19.

At the hearing, the prosecution presented Benjamin Mendy as a "predator" who abused "vulnerable, terrified and isolated" victims.

The footballer denied having been "a danger to women", claiming to have had only consensual sex.

He is judged alongside another man, Louis Saha Matturie (unrelated to former footballer Louis Saha), prosecuted on his side for six rapes and three sexual assaults.