Man City's Mendy cleared of rape charge but trial continues for 7 others

September 14 - Manchester City player Benjamin Mendy has had one of eight rape charges against him dropped during his ongoing trial at Chester Crown Court.

At the judge's direction during his trial, Mendy, 28, was cleared of the rape of a 19-year-old woman at her home in Prestbury, Cheshire, on July 24 last year.

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Louis Saha Matturie, 41, who is also on trial for six counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault, was also found not guilty of two counts of rape against the same woman.

Mendy still faces seven counts of rape, one count of attempted rape and one count of sexual assault against six young women.

Prosecutors described Mendy as a “predator” who “turned the pursuit of women for sex into a game.” Matturie would have had the task of finding young women for sex.

On the dismissal of rape charges after the prosecution provided no further evidence of the rape allegations, Judge Stephen Everett told jurors not to speculate on why the prosecution decided to not to pursue guilty verdicts but to continue to "faithfully" try the defendants on the multiple charges they still face.

Both men deny the charges against them, saying any sexual encounters with the women or girls were consensual.

The trial continues.

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