Benjamin Mendy WILL face retrial for rape after Manchester City star is found not guilty of seven sex attacks
BENJAMIN Mendy will face a retrial for rape as he’s hauled back to court.
The Manchester City star, 28, will face a three-week trial starting June 26.
The French international was today found not guilty of six rapes and one sexual assault against four women.
Jurors however could not reach verdicts on one count of rape and one of attempted rape against two other alleged victims.
Judge Everett brought jurors back into court and asked if they would reach further verdicts if given more time.
The foreman of the jury replied: “No. We are at a point now where we can’t agree.”
Judge Everett told them: “It is not unusual that jurors don’t reach verdicts on some counts. You have to be true to your duty.”
As Mendy stood in the dock he nodded as he was told there would be a pre-trial on January 27.
He was accused of being a “predator” who “turned the pursuit of women for sex into a game”.
It was also alleged he locked his victims in a “panic room” and hid their phones so they could not escape.
During a six-month trial, jurors were told the left-back lured young women into “toxic and dangerous” situations at his six-bedroom Cheshire home.
Co-defendant Louis Saha Matturie acted as Mendy’s “fixer” by getting girls as young as 17 to attend the lockdown-busting parties after nights spent in the VIP sections of clubs drinking £1,500 bottles of Champagne, it was said.
Some of his victims claimed their phones were taken away from them on arrival leaving them unable to call for help.
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.
She said claims he used his fame to attack women – with the prosecution comparing him to Jimmy Savile – were “utterly ridiculous”.
Man City has since released a statement.
The club said: “Manchester City FC notes the verdict from Chester Crown Court today, where a jury has found Benjamin Mendy not guilty of seven charges.
“The jury is hung on two charges and the trial is now over.
“Given there are open matters related to this case, the club is not in a position to comment further at this time.”