21 May 2023 , 18:21
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Benjamin Mendy has been spotted out with two friends at a restaurant in Cheshire as Manchester City lifted the Premier League trophy.
The Frenchman, who hasn't played for City for well over a year and remains suspended by the club, was in the Juniper Restaurant as he kept tabs on his teammates by watching their win against Chelsea on his phone. His appearance out in public comes on the same day Man City lifted the Premier League trophy as champions for the 2022/23 campaign.
Mendy will face a retrial this summer on one count of rape and another of attempted rape. The 28-year-old was found not guilty of five rape charges, one count of attempted rape and a separate accusation of sexual assault back in January. A jury made up of seven men and four women made the decision after 14 days of deliberations at Chester Crown Court.
Benjamin Mendy faces a retrial on two charges in June (Eamonn and James Clarke)
He remains suspended by Man City (Eamonn and James Clarke)After the court had concluded, Jenny Wiltshire, of Hickman & Rose, said: “My client Benjamin Mendy would like to thank the members of the jury for their dedication and commitment. He also thanks everyone who supported him, and particularly the witnesses who gave evidence on his behalf in the glare of such intense publicity.”
She said that he was “delighted that he has been unanimously acquitted” of most of the charges he faced before adding that "he looks forward to clearing his name in relation to the other two charges so he can start rebuilding his life. Until these proceedings have concluded neither I, nor my client, are able to comment further.”
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Mendy (R) kept tabs on Man City's result by watching the match vs Chelsea on his phone (Eamonn and James Clarke)
The Man City player (R) was out with two friends (Eamonn and James Clarke)A club statement from Man City after the verdict read: "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."
City have claimed their fifth league title and six years this weekend after Arsenal failed to beat Nottingham Forest. It meant they went into their clash with the Blues knowing they were champions and Julian Alvarez's first-half strike was enough to seal all three points. Mendy has claimed several league titles since moving to the Etihad in the summer of 2017 from Monaco. He was suspended by Man City in August 2021 after charges were first brought against him.