Former Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy has expressed his desire for privacy as he embarks on rebuilding his life after being found not guilty on charges of rape and attempted rape.
The 28-year-old former French international was acquitted in his second trial, which addressed two charges that were left undecided from a previous court proceeding.
Mendy had previously been found not guilty of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in January, but the jury had failed to reach a verdict on two charges, leading to the second trial.
After the verdict was announced at Chester Crown Court in northwest England, Mendy expressed his gratitude by saying “Alhamdulillah,” an Arabic phrase meaning “praise be to God.”
Mendy’s lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire, stated that her client was relieved with the verdict and thanked the jury for focusing on the evidence presented during the trial. She acknowledged the impact the investigation and legal process had on Mendy over the past three years and requested privacy for him to begin rebuilding his life.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which brought the charges against Mendy, respected the decision of the jury and emphasized its commitment to prosecuting rape cases when the legal test is met. The CPS clarified that its role is to make fair, independent, and objective assessments about whether to present charges for consideration by the criminal court.
Mendy, who played as a left-back, had been suspended by Manchester City in August 2021 when the original charges were announced.
His contract with the club expired at the end of the 2022-23 season. Mendy began his professional career in France before moving to Britain to play for Manchester City, representing Le Havre, Olympique de Marseille, and Monaco along the way.
