Manchester City have released Benjamin Mendy as he awaits his retrial on two alleged rape charges.
Mendy, 28, has remained suspended by Man City since he was first charged in August 2021. His contract expires at the end of this month and Man City have confirmed he will not be staying at the club.
He was cleared of six counts of rape and one charge of sexual assault earlier this year after a five-month trial at Chester Crown Court but is set to face a retrial this month on one count of alleged rape and another of attempted rape. He denies all charges.
Mendy’s retrial is set to begin on June 26.
Jenny Wiltshire, of Hickman & Rose, said after the French international was cleared of seven of the charges against him in January: “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.”
Mendy’s co-accused, Louis Saha Matturie of Eccles, Salford, was 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.
He faces a retrial later this year with a date pencilled in for September.
Source: Mirror.co.uk
