Trial of Man City's Benjamin Mendy adjourned due to unwell juror - as court pays tribute to Queen

The trial of Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy and co-defendant Louis Saha Matturie has been adjourned due to an unwell juror. It came as the court paid tribute to Her Majesty the Queen following her death.

Judges, barristers and court staff fell silent to mark the death of Elizabeth II. A two-minute silence was held at Chester Crown Court to mark the monarch's passing.

Judge Steven Everett, the Honorary Recorder of Chester, entered Court One at Chester Crown Court and told of the 'hugely positive effect' her life had on the country. He was flanked by other Chester judges Michael Leeming, Simon Berkson and Recorder Eric Lamb as about 100 people, including barristers, court staff and police paid their respects.

Judge Everett addressed those assembled in court before two minutes of silence was observed. He said: "This short sitting is being held to mark the very sad passing of our longest-serving monarch Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who died yesterday.

"She was the longest reigning monarch of our United Kingdom and was loved and respected throughout the world. Today is not the time for tributes to be paid to her in this courtroom."

But the judge said it was 'right and proper' to reflect on the 'hugely positive effect of her life on our United Kingdom and on our society as a whole'.

Before leaving the courtroom, the judge added: "It is business as usual as Her Majesty would have wanted it to be."

Mr Mendy, 28, has been charged with eight counts of rape against five women; one count of attempted rape; and one count of sexual assault.

The offences are alleged to have taken place on five different occasions at his Cheshire mansion between October 2018 and August last year, relating to seven women in total. Mr