Benjamin Mendy trial: this Whatsapp group at the heart of the world champion’s defense

The trial against Benjamin Mendy continues in Manchester. Thursday August 18 and Friday August 19, 2022, it was the turn of the cross-examination of the complainant, who accuses the player of three successive rapes on the same evening, October 11, 2020. Thus, Benjamin Mendy’s lawyer, Eleanor Laws, took the floor and did not hesitate to mention her relationship with another complainant in the football player. As reported The Teamthe lawyer based her entire interrogation on a WhatsApp group (nicknamed Sunday Schlagggs). Benjamin Mendy’s defense assured that the player’s two alleged victims were among them.

Eleanor Laws claimed that the two plaintiffs were “gone on vacation together“ and that they had gone out, to a restaurant or a bar, twenty-five times in one year. Thus, the woman of law explained that these facts contradicted the version of the first complainant. The latter would have assured to have met only once the second victim. In addition, the lawyer insisted on pointing out the fact that the complainant only contacted the police three weeks after the alleged facts.

Benjamin Mendy’s lawyer attacked the player’s alleged victim

“By then, in early November (2020), you had convinced yourself that you were truly a victim […]. You persuaded yourself that Mr. Mendy had done something wrong instead of something that was fully consensual“, she launched. “I am absolutely certain of what happenedreplied the young woman. I did not give my consent at any time. I didn’t need to persuade myself.”

Benjamin Mendy is presumed innocent of the charges against him.