It is 2:52 p.m. local time (3:52 p.m. in France), this Monday, when Benjamin Mendy leaves the dock and sits down, alongside an interpreter, facing the twelve jurors of the Crown Court of Chester (Cheshire). The moment has been eagerly awaited since the trial began on August 10. Benjamin Mendy then dropped two words: « not guilty », ” not guilty “ numerous charges against him: eight rapes, one attempted rape and sexual assault on seven young women (one charge has since been dropped due to insufficient evidence). When he sits down, Judge Steven Everett specifies to the Mancunian that he is “perfectly free to answer in French or in English”. Mendy takes an oath.
