The jury in Manchester Metropolis defender Benjamin Mendy’s rape trial has been informed to query the credibility of their accusers.
In her closing speech, defence lawyer Lisa Wilding KC highlighted behaviours from accusers that had been “inconsistent” with an allegation of rape.
She spoke concerning the proof of 1 complainant, a 19-year-old lady, who informed jurors from the witness field that 28-year-old Mendy and co-accused Louis Saha Matturie had raped her.
However cell phone proof emerged throughout the 16-week trial at Chester Crown Court docket of her having “enthusiastic” intercourse with Matturie on an event she claimed she was being raped.
Jurors within the trial had been directed to seek out each males not responsible of these prices in opposition to them.
Ms Wilding stated: “She sat on this courtroom and regarded you within the eye and gave what would have, maybe, been a compelling and convincing account of being raped a number of occasions by these two males.
“Like so most of the witnesses on this case, she is caught up in a tangled net of connections and contacts and data.
She added: “Why is that necessary?
“Due to collusion. It’s a must to think about in respect of every of the ladies who got here to this courtroom to present proof, is their proof dependable? Is their proof strong?
“This case rests on the credibility of witnesses. Folks lie.”
Louis Saha Matturie denies a number of intercourse offences in opposition to a string of younger ladies
The defence lawyer went on to say that two different complainants, who additionally knew one another, additionally made “remarkably comparable” allegations that Matturie had raped them each once they had been sleeping.
Ms Wilding then informed jurors concerning the account of one other lady, aged, 23, who claimed 40-year-old Matturie raped her at 5.30am in Mendy’s Mercedes automobile whereas travelling to an area storage to purchase extra alcohol for a celebration on the footballer’s home.
She later stayed the evening at Mendy’s home and had intercourse with three different males, Ms Wilding stated, and when she left the footballer’s mansion at 10.03am, despatched a textual content to a good friend saying: “Hahaha I’ve slept with Jack Grealish.”
Ms Wilding stated such behaviour is “inconsistent” with an allegation of rape.
She stated this case was “inextricably linked” to that of a 17-year-old who has accused each Mendy and Matturie of raping her twice that very same evening.
Voice messages despatched to her associates shortly after hear her describe the celebration because the “finest evening of my life”, which Ms Wilding stated is “not a mirrored image of somebody who has been raped”.
Prosecutors informed the jury that Mendy lured younger ladies into “poisonous and harmful” conditions the place they had been raped and sexually assaulted.
They stated the assaults occurred at a flat he rented in Manchester metropolis centre, in addition to his residence, The Spinney, in Mottram St Andrew, within the Cheshire countryside, which he used for “after-parties” together with common lockdown-busting gatherings.
Matturie has been accused of being a “fixer” to deliver women again to the events after nights out in VIP lounges at Manchester nightclubs.
Each males declare any intercourse with ladies was consensual.
Premier League star Mendy denies seven counts of rape, one rely of tried rape and one rely of sexual assault in opposition to six younger ladies.
Matturie, from Salford, denies six counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault in opposition to seven younger ladies.
The trial was adjourned till Tuesday morning.
