City of Manchester defender Benjamin Mendy was acquitted on Friday of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
Jurors at Chester Crown Court in north-west England were unable to reach a verdict on two other charges against Mendy – one of willful rape and the other of rape – and were dismissed.
Prosecutors have said they will ask for a retrial on charges for which the jury was unable to reach a verdict at the end of the months-long trial.
Mendy, 28, covered her face with both hands and gently swayed back and forth as the jury foreman delivered the verdict in a silent courtroom, the British Press Association reported. The verdict of innocence involves four teenage girls or teenagers.
The unanimous verdicts were reached on Wednesday by seven men and four women on the jury. One juror was previously discharged for medical reasons.
Judgments cannot be reported until jurors have concluded considering the remaining two charges. They have been given a majority direction by the judge, meaning he will accept a 10-1 majority on any ruling.
After 14 days of deliberation, the jury was unable to reach a verdict.
Louis Saha Matturie, 41, who was jointly charged with Mendy and accused of being a “fixer,” was found not guilty of three counts of rape involving the two teenagers. The jurors were unable to reach a verdict on three counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault against him by five other women.
Mendy and Matturie have been on trial since August 10, accused by 13 women of multiple sexual assaults. They deny all the allegations.
Man City issued a short statement says it records the verdict regarding Mendy.
“Due to open matters related to this case, the club is unable to comment further at this time,” the Premier League club said.
