CHESTER, England: Manchester City player Benjamin Mendy was found not guilty Tuesday on a charge of rape of a 19-year-old woman.
The verdict was given by a jury on the direction of a judge at Chester Crown Court in northwest England.
Mendy’s co-accused, Louis Saha Matturie, was also cleared of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault against the same woman after the prosecution offered no further evidence against the defendants on those four counts.
Judge Stephen Everett warned jurors not to speculate as to why the prosecution had decided not to pursue guilty verdicts in relation to the charges concerned and to continue to “faithfully” try the defendants on the multiple charges they still face.
The rape charge dropped against Mendy related to an alleged incident at his home on July 24.
Mendy still faces seven counts of rape, one count of attempted rape and one count of sexual assault against six young women.
Prosecutors have alleged Mendy is a “predator” who “turned the pursuit of women for sex into a game.”
Matturie, Mendy’s friend, is alleged to have had the job of finding young women to have sex with Mendy.
Matturie denies six counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault relating to seven young women.
Both men say if any sex did take place with women or girls, it was consensual.
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Man City player Benjamin Mendy cleared of one count of rape
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Man City player Benjamin Mendy cleared of one count of rape
- The verdict was given by a jury on the direction of a judge at Chester Crown Court
- The rape charge dropped against Mendy related to an alleged incident at his home on July 24
Newcastle’s Howe slams ‘stonewall penalty’ snub as defensive woes continue
NEWCASTLE: Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe criticized the referee for not awarding a “stonewall penalty” in the 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Saturday, dismissing the officials’ explanations as his side extended their alarming habit of dropping points after leading.
Howe was left frustrated after his team let slip another two-goal lead, with Newcastle now dropping 13 points from winning positions this season after Nick Woltemade’s first-half double was canceled out by Chelsea’s second-half comeback.
But Newcastle felt aggrieved when Trevoh Chalobah made a robust challenge on Anthony Gordon in the second half, with appeals for a penalty dismissed by the referee and VAR.
“I think it’s a clear penalty. I think anywhere else on the pitch, that’s a free kick,” Howe told TNT Sports.
“I think the player has got into Anthony aggressively, too aggressively in my opinion, so I think it’s a stonewall.”
The Premier League match center said a penalty was denied because contact from Chalobah on Gordon was deemed to be “side-to-side in a shielding action” and because the ball was “within playing distance” — an explanation Howe rejected outright.
“No, because it’s not. I think the defender’s only look is Anthony, not the ball, and I think it’s too aggressive,” he added.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said he did not see it as a penalty but was happy to take a point under the circumstances.
“I think there are not many teams that are 2-0 down at halftime — against this team in this stadium — and they can come back,” he said.
“Today I’m very happy because I feel proud of the players. It’s not easy at 2-0 down to show character and come back ... The game was 50-50 and enjoyable for the fans.”
NEWCASTLE SQUANDER LEAD
Howe will lament his side failing to win at St. James’ Park, where Reece James and Joao Pedro salvaged a point for Chelsea.
Newcastle have now gone 10 Premier League games without a clean sheet to leave them 11th and could slip down the table depending on results over the rest of the weekend.
“We’ve not done our jobs and followed through and won today, but that’s something we’re reflecting on and analizing all the time” Howe said.
“I think we’ve been in a good place since the last international break. When we returned and we beat Manchester City (in November), I think we’ve seen a big upturn in the consistency of performance.
“We had the dip at Sunderland (a 1-0 defeat), but that apart, I think we’ve been very good. I’m positive about the team and the trajectory we’re on. I’m disappointed with the results.”
Howe was left frustrated after his team let slip another two-goal lead, with Newcastle now dropping 13 points from winning positions this season after Nick Woltemade’s first-half double was canceled out by Chelsea’s second-half comeback.
But Newcastle felt aggrieved when Trevoh Chalobah made a robust challenge on Anthony Gordon in the second half, with appeals for a penalty dismissed by the referee and VAR.
“I think it’s a clear penalty. I think anywhere else on the pitch, that’s a free kick,” Howe told TNT Sports.
“I think the player has got into Anthony aggressively, too aggressively in my opinion, so I think it’s a stonewall.”
The Premier League match center said a penalty was denied because contact from Chalobah on Gordon was deemed to be “side-to-side in a shielding action” and because the ball was “within playing distance” — an explanation Howe rejected outright.
“No, because it’s not. I think the defender’s only look is Anthony, not the ball, and I think it’s too aggressive,” he added.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said he did not see it as a penalty but was happy to take a point under the circumstances.
“I think there are not many teams that are 2-0 down at halftime — against this team in this stadium — and they can come back,” he said.
“Today I’m very happy because I feel proud of the players. It’s not easy at 2-0 down to show character and come back ... The game was 50-50 and enjoyable for the fans.”
NEWCASTLE SQUANDER LEAD
Howe will lament his side failing to win at St. James’ Park, where Reece James and Joao Pedro salvaged a point for Chelsea.
Newcastle have now gone 10 Premier League games without a clean sheet to leave them 11th and could slip down the table depending on results over the rest of the weekend.
“We’ve not done our jobs and followed through and won today, but that’s something we’re reflecting on and analizing all the time” Howe said.
“I think we’ve been in a good place since the last international break. When we returned and we beat Manchester City (in November), I think we’ve seen a big upturn in the consistency of performance.
“We had the dip at Sunderland (a 1-0 defeat), but that apart, I think we’ve been very good. I’m positive about the team and the trajectory we’re on. I’m disappointed with the results.”
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