Harry Maguire frustrated over retrial for Greece police assault as decision is made

Posted Thursday, February 08, 2024 by Dailystar.co.uk

Manchester United and England defender Harry Maguire was hoping to finally clear his name over a brawl in Mykonos in August 2020, but his appeal has been delayed once again

Harry Maguire frustrated over retrial for Greece police assault as decision is made
Harry Maguire received a 21-month suspended sentence, which he appealed (Image: Steve Reigate/Daily Express)

Harry Maguire's fight to clear his name over a brawl in Mykonos has been hit with another hiccup due to a lawyers' strike in Greece.

The Manchester United star was arrested and later convicted of assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, and attempted bribery whilst on holiday back in August 2020. He was given a 21-month suspended sentence for his involvement in the fight outside a bar.

He appealed the verdict, which under Greek law nullified the conviction, and has been awaiting a hearing on the neighbouring island of Syros since. It was finally set to take place today (February 7). But the hearing before an appeals court judge has been pushed back, the Mirror reported.

Harry Maguire frustrated over retrial for Greece police assault as decision is made
Maguire was holidaying in Mykonos with family and friends including sister Daisy (Image: Instagram/daisssmaguire_)

"The case is going to be adjourned," prosecution lawyer Yannis Paradisis told The Guardian, with a new date to be given tomorrow (Thursday). Maguire won't have to attend and will be able to give evidence via video link. It's now been 42 months since the incident.

Paradisis, who represents two out of the three policemen alleging that Maguire punched and kicked them, added: "They are professionals and they know that justice [in this country] can take a long time."

"At this rate Maguire may have retired from professional football when he receives a summons," said a court official at the Syros tribunal to the Guardian. "After eight years the statute of limitations kicks in. If the case hasn't been heard by then it will be written off."

This isn't the first time his case has been put on hold. It was postponed back in May because his lawyer Alexis Anagnostakis couldn't make it due to a scheduling conflict.

The alleged incident unfolded while Maguire was on holiday with his friends and family, including his now-wife Fern Hawkins, his sister Daisy, and his brother Joe. He claims the trouble started outside the Bonbonniere bar after Daisy was injected with an unknown substance by two men.

He alleges he wanted to take her to a hospital but ended up at the police station, where he says he was beaten. Fearing he was going to be kidnapped, Maguire tried to flee the scene.

"Some people will believe me, some people won't," he shared with The Times last November. "But one thing I would say about Mykonos is that I have no regrets.

"I don't worry about what the outcome is going to be. I don't worry about anything to do with it because my conscience is so clear about what happened that night. The people who were there that night, there were nine of us, we all understand what went on and what happened."