Jurors in the trial of Manchester City star Benjamin Mendy have resumed their deliberations following the festive break. The Manchester City player, 28, denies seven counts of rape against four women, one count of attempted rape alleged by a fifth woman and one count of sexual assault against a sixth.
The offences are alleged to have taken place at his Prestbury mansion between October 2018 and August last year. His co-defendant and alleged 'fixer', Louis Saha Matturie, 41, from Eccles, Salford, denies six counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault, allegations relating to seven women. The trial at Chester Crown Court started in August. Before the break for Christmas and New Year, the jury of seven men and four women had been considering their verdicts for about four-and-a-half days.On Tuesday morning, the jury returned to court for a sixth day of deliberations. "It is still unanimity I require from you, one way or another," they were told by Judge Steven Everett, the Honorary Recorder of Chester.
The jury was previously reduced to 11 from the usual number of 12, after one juror required emergency medical treatment.