What's happened
The defence lawyer gave her closing speech, asking the jury to end Mendy's 'absolute hell' by acquitting him of all charges.
Why it matters
The trial of a high-profile footballer accused of multiple counts of rape is significant due to the prominence of the defendant and the serious nature of the charges.
What the papers say
The defence lawyer described the claims against Mendy as 'utterly ridiculous' and stated that he was not the kind of person to deliberately harm anyone. The prosecution, on the other hand, described Mendy as a 'predatory serial rapist' who used his fame to lure women into dangerous situations. The Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, testified that he did not know what Mendy did in his private life. The trial has lasted for over three months and has received extensive media coverage.
How we got here
The trial has heard allegations that Mendy lured young women into 'toxic and dangerous' situations at parties where they were raped and sexually assaulted. Mendy and his co-accused, Louis Saha Matturie, deny all charges. The trial has included testimony from multiple witnesses and has lasted for several months.
More on these topics
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Benjamin Mendy is a French professional footballer who plays as a left back for Premier League club Manchester City and the France national team.
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Josep "Pep" Guardiola Sala is a Spanish professional football manager and former player, who is the current manager of Premier League club Manchester City. He is considered to be one of the greatest managers of all time.