Ex-star winger Ryan Giggs began appearing in British court on Monday, accused of assaulting his girlfriend, which he denies but which led him to resign as Wales coach in the run-up to of the Mondial-2022.
Ex-star winger Ryan Giggs began appearing in British court on Monday, accused of assaulting his girlfriend, which he denies but which led him to resign as Wales coach in the run-up to of the Mondial-2022. The 48-year-old former player, who won two Champions Leagues in a Manchester United jersey, entered Manchester Minshull Street, flanked by his lawyers. The hearing opened around 11 a.m. local time (10 a.m. GMT/12 p.m. French). Judge Hilary Manley said the trial is expected to last two weeks but could be extended.
Giggs pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. This first day is devoted to the selection of jurors and the speech of the representative of the prosecution, Peter Wright. The latter said that CCTV images and other video images will be shown at trial. Ryan Giggs is accused of assaulting his former girlfriend, Kate Gerville, during a heated argument on Nov. 1, 2020. Police were called to Giggs’ home.
He must also answer for the offense of behavior of control over his companion during their relationship, which had started in 2017 and ended on the day of the facts with which he is accused. This head of prosecution covers acts of “isolation, belittlement, humiliation, harassment, degradation and ill-treatment”. Giggs, arrested at his home in November 2020 and released, is also charged with violence against the sister of his ex-partner, Emma Gerville. At a preliminary hearing in April 2021, he disputed the charges against him and pleaded not guilty. His trial was originally scheduled for January but had to be postponed due to court congestion.
Thirteen titles
He chose as his lawyer Chris Daw, who defends big names in sport such as former Chelsea captain John Terry, acquitted in 2012 by British justice in a case of racist insults against player Anton Ferdinand the previous year. in an English league match. Giggs resigned as Wales manager in June. “I do not want the country’s preparations for the World Cup to be affected, destabilized or endangered in any way by the continued interest around this matter,” he said.
He said he was eager to “clear (his) name”. As a player, Giggs won 13 Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues with the Red Devils. The midfielder began his coaching career at Old Trafford, taking over as temporary manager at the end of the 2013/14 season following David Moyes’ dismissal, before working as Louis van Gaal’s assistant for two years. He was appointed in January 2018 coach of the Welsh team, which he led to the round of 16 of the last Euro last year. The 2022 World Cup will be the Welsh eleven’s fourth participation in a major competition since the 1958 World Cup. Giggs’ trial opens two days before that of French player Benjamin Mendy, tried in Chester from Wednesday for rape and sexual assaults on seven women.