Mendy 'delighted' as his lawyer reacts to him being cleared of all rape charges
Benjamin Mendy's lawyer confirmed her client is "delighted" after being cleared of all criminal charges on Friday.
Mendy, 28, has been found not guilty of one count of attempted rape and a second charge of rape. The former Manchester City defender was acquitted by a jury of six men and six women at Chester Crown Court following a retrial.
Mendy's lawyer Jenny Wiltshire, who is the head of serious and general crime at Hickman & Rose, gave a statement after the verdict was reached. She said: "Benjamin Mendy would like to thank the members of the jury for focusing on the evidence in this trial, rather than on the rumour and innuendo that have followed this case from the outset.
"This is the second time that Mr Mendy has been tried and found not guilty by a jury. He is delighted that both juries reached the correct verdicts. It has been almost three years since the police started investigating this matter.
Mendy was acquitted on Friday (Getty Images)"Mr Mendy has tried to remain strong but the process has, inevitably had a serious impact on him. He thanks everyone who has supported him throughout this ordeal and now asks for privacy so he can begin rebuilding his life."
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The footballer was approached for comment by Sky Sports and said only "alhamdulillah" (thank god) before walking away.
Mendy was accused of attempting to rape a woman at his Cheshire home in October 2018 along with a separate count of raping another woman at the same location in October 2020. He was previously acquitted of seven other trials by a different jury in January.
On Friday, Mendy stood for the verdicts but sank to his seat with his head on his knees while wiping away tears with a tissue.
Mendy was cleared of attempting to rape a woman, aged 29 at the time, at his £4million mansion in Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire in October 2018.
The three-time Premier League winner was also found not guilty of the rape of a second woman, aged 24, two years later also at his home address. He is alleged to have later told her: "It’s fine, I’ve had sex with 10,000 women", the court heard.
The jury was out for around three hours and 15 minutes before returning their verdicts. Judge Steven Everett responded: "Mr Mendy can be discharged from the dock."
His trial was a re-trial, having been cleared by a jury earlier this year of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, relating to four young women or teenagers, following a six-month trial. Jurors failed to reach verdicts on the two counts of rape and attempted rape he was re-tried with.
Mendy hasn't played professional football since the time of his arrest in August 2021. He joined Man City in the summer of 2017 after spells with French sides Le Havre, Marseille and Monaco. He was part of the France squad that won the World Cup in 2018.
Mendy has not said whether he will continue his professional football career.
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