Man City star Benjamin Mendy’s ‘fixer’ Louis Saha Matturie, 41, found NOT guilty of raping teens as ace is also cleared
BENJAMIN Mendy’s “fixer” Louis Saha Matturie has also been found not guilty of rape after the Man City ace was cleared.
Mendy was today cleared by a jury of raping women at his isolated mansion during lockdown-busting parties.
The Man City star was accused by prosecutors of being a “predator” who “turned the pursuit of women for sex into a game”.
But the French international was today found not guilty of six rapes and one sexual assault against four women.
And Saha Matturie, 41, was also found not guilty of three counts of rape relating to two teenagers.
It was heard the co-defendant acted as Mendy’s “fixer” by getting girls as young as 17 to attend the lockdown-busting parties.
They were invited there after nights spent in the VIP sections of clubs drinking £1,500 bottles of Champagne, it was alleged.
Jurors failed to reach verdicts on three counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault against Saha by five other women.
Some of the alleged victims claimed their phones were taken away from them on arrival leaving them unable to call for help.
Mr Mendy covered his face with both hands as the jury foreman repeated “not guilty” to the six counts, which related to four young women or teenagers.
Mendy, 28, also allegedly locked his victims in a “panic room” and hid their phones so they could not escape.
Jurors could not reach verdicts on one count of rape and one of attempted rape against two other alleged victims so he could face a retrial.
During a six-month trial, jurors were told by prosecutors that the left-back lured young women into “toxic and dangerous” situations at his six-bedroom Cheshire home.
Once inside, the women were allegedly treated as “disposable…used for sex then thrown to one side”.
But his lawyer Eleanor Laws KC told jurors to end Mendy’s “absolute hell” and acquit him.
However, it has now been confirmed Mendy will face a retrial for rape as he’s hauled back to court.
The Manchester City star will face a three-week trial starting June 26.
Mendy, who missed the World Cup, was bailed in January last year after spending 134 days in custody following his arrest in August 2021.
He continued to be selected by City for 10 months after his first arrest for rape, playing or being part of nearly 50 match squads.