The French professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Manchester City, Benjamin Mendy, has been found not guilty of six counts of rape and one charge of sexual assault against five women.
The jury have been discharge after it failed to reach verdicts on one count of rape and one of attempted rape and a retrial will take place.
Also Co-accused Louis Saha Matturie, was also found not guilty of three counts of rape against two teenagers.
Jurors were unable to reach verdicts on six more charges against him. The trial began in August after 13 women made allegations against Mendy, and his friend Mr Matturie. The pair had been accused of raping women at the player’s home in Prestbury, Cheshire, and at a Manchester flat.
Mendy was suspended by his club in August 2021, after he was charged with rape. He will stand trial again in June, 26 for the two accusations of claimed rape and attempted rape that the jury was unable to decide.
Mendy covered his face with both hands as the jury foreman repeated “not guilty” to the six counts. They were delivered on Wednesday but the verdict verdicts could not be reported until jurors concluded, considering the remaining two charges.
In a statement, his 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.”