Benjamin Mendy, a former player for Manchester City, has requested seclusion in order to start “rebuilding his life” after being cleared of both a rape and an attempted rape conviction.
Following his acquittal in his second trial coming from two allegations left unresolved from an earlier court session, the 28-year-old former French international exited Chester Crown Court in northwest England on Friday.
In January, the same court returned not guilty verdicts for Mendy on six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. However, the original jury was unable to reach a verdict on two charges, leading to a new trial.
Outside court, Mendy said, “Alhamdulillah,” meaning “praise be to God” in Arabic.
His lawyer Jenny Wiltshire said her client was “delighted that both juries reached the correct verdict”.
“Benjamin Mendy would like to thank the members of the jury for focusing on the evidence in this trial, rather than on the rumor and innuendo that have followed this case from the outset,” she said.
“In the three years since the police started investigating this matter, Mr. Mendy has tried to remain strong, but the process has inevitably had a serious impact on him,” she continued, adding that the footballer would now “ask for privacy so he can begin rebuilding his life.”
In a statement to CNN, the Crown Prosecution Service(CPS), which brought the charges against Mendy, said it respects the decision of the jury.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to prosecute rape cases wherever our legal test is met, no matter how challenging the case, and encourage anyone who is a victim to report to the police,” a spokesperson said.
“It is not the function of the CPS to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offense, but to make fair, independent, and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges for the criminal court to consider,” it said.
Mendy, who plays as a left-back, was suspended by Manchester City in August 2021 when the original charges against him were announced. His contract with the club expired at the end of the 2022-23 season.
He began his career playing professional leagues in France for Le Havre, Olympique de Marseille, and Monaco before moving to Britain to play for Manchester City.