He arrived in court early, dark blue suit and tie.
A relaxed but serious Benjamin Mendy was the third defendant to appear at Chester Crown Court, south Manchester, on Wednesday.
Sitting to the left of his friend and co-accused Louis Saha Matturie, (who is not related to former Manchester player Louis Saha), the Manchester City defender, asked by the judges just after a man prosecuted for a traffic offense, will have spoken only twice during this first day of hearing devoted to the organization of the trial.
The first time to confirm his identity, then to plead not guilty to the eighth rape charge against him.
Indicted in June for this new count, he had not yet had the opportunity to plead guilty or not guilty to this additional charge.
The player spoke in English on these two points, even if a translator accompanied him, because he should, during the following hearings, speak French.
The two men did not reveal anything when reading the indictment.
The court shelled twenty-two counts: ten for Mendy (eight rapes, an attempted rape and a sexual assault), twelve for Matturie (eight rapes and four sexual assaults).
For these alleged crimes, committed between 2018 and 2021 at the player's home, the two men face a life sentence, with a security period of 19 years.
They pleaded not guilty on all counts.
In all, fifteen women are accusing them, including one who was a minor at the time of the events.
The trial should last fifteen weeks
A few dozen journalists were present in the court or outside to attend this highly publicized start to the trial, which the fortified city of Chester (in the north-west of England) and its 80,000 people are not used to. inhabitants.
This first day of the trial, known in Great Britain as "Regina versus Mendy and Matturie", was above all devoted to the preparation of the jurors who were drawn by lot and to the technical details of the trial: the hearing schedule, the days of absence of the judge, cases of conflict of interest...
The selection of the jury was made among 38 potential jurors who had to fill out several questionnaires, reveal their possible "links" with Manchester City, Benjamin Mendy's club, or with Manchester United, the historic rival.
“Mr Mendy is a professional footballer.
He plays for Manchester City, "said judge Steven Everett to the potential jurors, who also had to say if they had any particular connections with five other Premier League players: Raheem Sterling, Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker, Riyad Mahrez and John Stones.
At the end of the day, eight men and four women were finally drawn, plus two alternates.
The fourteen jurors selected were sworn in.
The trial must finally last fifteen weeks, until November.
During this period, the two co-defendants will benefit from a drastic adjustment of the judicial control to which they are subject.
Their curfew was shortened from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. (instead of 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.), to allow them to exercise before and after court hours.
Since his first appearances, the left side has changed lawyers and will be represented during the trial by Eleanor Laws.
Bought in 2017 by Manchester City for 60 million euros, the most expensive ex-defender in history has been suspended by his club since his indictment.
