Benjamin Mendy pictured at court as footballer's trial for rape to get underway

Posted Tuesday, June 27, 2023 by Dailystar.co.uk

Manchester City and France defender Benjamin Mendy faces one charge of rape and one charge of attempted rape, against two different women, both of which he denies

Benjamin Mendy pictured at court as footballer's trial for rape to get underway
Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy arrives at Chester Crown Court

Benjamin Mendy has been pictured entering Chester Crown Court as his rape charge trial gets underway.

The Manchester City defender is facing one charge of rape against one woman and another of attempted rape against another woman, and he has denied both charges. The trial is expected to last between two and three weeks and will be presided over by Judge Steven Everett, the Honorary Recorder of Chester.

He arrived at court on Monday (June 26) wearing a dark green suit and a bright orange tie.

The 28-year-old Frenchman is accused of the attempted rape of a woman in October 2018 and raping another woman in October 2020.

Benjamin Mendy pictured at court as footballer's trial for rape to get underway
Benjamin Mendy is accused of rape and attempted rape

The allegations relate to incidents said to have taken place at a Cheshire mansion belonging to Mendy, as well as a rented flat in central Manchester, between October of 2018 and August of 2022.

Earlier this month it was confirmed the left-back will be leaving Manchester City when his contract expires at the end of June. He hasn't played for the club since August 2021, shortly before his arrest. Mendy has been suspended by City ever since.

Benjamin Mendy pictured at court as footballer's trial for rape to get underway
Benjamin Mendy will not be contracted to Manchester City once his deal expires at the end of June

He arrived at the Etihad Stadium from Monaco in a £52m deal back in 2017, having been poached from a team that also contained the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Bernardo Silva and Fabinho. Injury issues initially plagued Mendy's stint in England with the full-back racking up just 75 appearances for City.

Mendy has played 10 times for France and was part of the 2018 World Cup winning squad in Russia. He played 40 minutes as a substitute in a goalless group game against Denmark.