Pep Guardiola backs Man City stance after Benjamin Mendy statement

13 January 2023 , 13:54

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Pep Guardiola has backed Man City's stance after releasing a statement on Benjamin Mendy (Image: AFP)

Pep Guardiola backed Manchester City's brief statement after Benjamin Mendy was found NOT guilty of five rape charges, one count of attempted rape and a separate accusation of sexual assault.

The French defender is facing a retrial on June 26 after the jury failed to reach verdicts on one count of rape and one of attempted rape. Judge Steven Everett discharged a jury made up of seven men and four women after 14 days of deliberations at Chester Crown Court.

Mendy has been suspended without pay by Manchester City since first being charged in September 2021. He had denied all charges.

Guardiola was asked about the latest developments at his press conference and simply declared: "Please take Manchester City's statement like my words."

Man City defender Mendy faces a retrial in June after a jury could not reach a verdict on one count of rape and another of attempted rape (Getty Images)

Manchester City's statement at the conclusion of Mendy's trial, shortly before Guardiola's press conference, stated: "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.

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"Given there are open matters related to this case, the Club is not in a position to comment further at this time."

Jurors had initially been instructed by the judge to reach unanimous decisions on all 18 charges facing Mendy, 28, and his co-accused Louis Saha Matturie, 41.

On Wednesday, the 12th day of deliberations, Judge Everett said that he would accept a majority decision. But the jury of 11 were still unable to reach a verdict - leading to the judge bringing a trial that began in the middle of August to a close.

Matturie, of Eccles, Salford, has been found not guilty of three counts of rape relating to two teenagers. The jury were unable to reach verdicts on three additional rape counts and three allegations of sexual assault against him by five other women.

Four weeks into the trial, Mendy and Matturie were found not guilty of an additional count of rape against a 19-year-old woman after video evidence was produced in court that showed consensual intercourse taking place.

Mendy has not played for Man City since being suspended when first charged in September 2021

After the jury was discharged Matthew Conway, representing the prosecution, said that they would be seeking a retrial on the counts the jury could not reach verdicts on.

Mr Conway said: “The prosecution has made a decision. We have made a decision today, which is to proceed on these counts in two separate trials and we seek today a provisional case management.”

Two dates in the summer were discussed before agreement was reached for the retrial to begin on June 26. It is expected to last two to three weeks.

Mr Matturie will be tried separately with his trial initially pencilled in for mid-September.

Rich Jones