Benjamin Mendy Found Not Guilty Of One Count Of Rape As Trial Continues

Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy has been found not guilty of the rape of a 19-year-old woman on the direction of a judge presiding over his trial for multiple alleged sexual offences. His co-accused, Louis Saha Matturie, 41, was also cleared of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault against the same woman after the prosecution offered no further evidence against the defendants on those four counts. Judge Stephen Everett warned jurors at Chester Crown Court, in northwest England, not to speculate as to why the prosecution had decided not to pursue guilty verdicts on those charges and to continue to "faithfully" try the defendants on the charges they still face.

Earlier, jurors were told of a private video of the woman having what was described as "enthusiastic" sex with Matturie, when she claimed she had been raped.

The 20-minute mobile phone video was taken by Matturie on August 1 last year, the court heard, a week after both men had allegedly raped the same woman on the same night at the footballer's mansion.

The woman had told the jury Matturie sexually assaulted her for a second time at a flat on August 1, 2021 after clubbing in Manchester.

Lisa Wilding, defending Matturie, suggested what happened between them was "consensual, willing and enthusiastic" sex, not rape, the court heard.

The woman denied this, claiming the incident left her feeling "shamed and disgusted".

Wilding said: "I'm going to have to ask you to look at some images."

The hearing was adjourned and when court resumed after lunch, Timothy Cray, prosecuting, said the prosecution was no longer seeking guilty verdicts on alleged sexual offences involving the 19-year-old complainant.

Jurors were then directed to enter not guilty verdicts