“Alhamdulillah,” Benjamin Mendy said to the press after being cleared of all rape and attempted rape charges that had dogged his football career for nearly three years.
The 28-year-old former Manchester City defender is accused of raping a 24-year-old woman in October 2020 at his £4 million mansion in Mottram St. Andrew, Cheshire.
Benjamin Mendy was also accused of attempting to rape a 29-year-old woman who claimed he had previously mistreated her at his home two years before.
BREAKING: Benjamin Mendy Of M’City Has Been Found Not Guilty Of Rape
The footballer, whose contract with Manchester City expired this month, was exonerated of six charges of rape and one count of sexual assault involving four young women or teenagers in an earlier trial.
After over two years of court fights that culminated in January 2023, he was acquitted of the six rape-related crimes.
Unfortunately, jurors were unable to reach verdicts on two charges of rape and attempted rape, forcing the case to be retried.
Benjamin Mendy was allowed to leave and returned to court in June for the start of the three-week re-trial.
On Friday, July 14, the jury of six men and six women discussed for almost three hours and fifteen minutes before reaching a decision. They came to the conclusion that Benjamin Mendy did not rape a woman and did not attempt to rape another person as accused.
Court Set To Clear Manchester City’s Benjamin Mendy of Rape Accusation
The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner sobbed as the jury’s judgment of not guilty was read aloud at Manchester’s Chester Crown Court.
Judge Steven Everett said: “Mr. Mendy can be discharged from the dock.”
As he was leaving the court as a free man for the first time in almost three years, reporters tried to get his reaction. The emotional Frenchman couldn’t say anything after saying “Alhamdulillah” which simply means “Thank God”.
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