A Spanish appeals court overturned former Brazilian football player Dani Alves’ conviction for rape on Friday, arguing that his trial had “shortcomings” and “inaccuracies” and was biased.
A young woman raped in a Barcelona nightclub’s VIP bathroom on December 31, 2022, and Alves was given a four-and-a-half year jail sentence in February of that year.
After posting the one million euros ($1.1 million) bail set by the court, the 41-year-old, who won the Champions League three times with Barcelona, was released from jail in March. He is currently appealing his release.
The player’s conviction was “annulled” by the appeals court, which according to the appeals court’s four judges “unanimously” accepted.
The court also rejected the public prosecutors’ appeal for a nine-year, more severe jail term.
In its decision, the court said that Alves’ trial contained “a number of gaps, inaccuracies, inconsistencies, and contradictions regarding the facts, the legal assessment, and its consequences.”
According to the prosecution’s witness statements, the victim claimed that Alves had violently forced her to have sex despite begging him to let her go, causing her “anguish and terror” while she testified behind a screen to protect her identity during the trial.
Alves first claimed he had never met the woman, but later later claimed they had sex over a sexual encounter.
The victim’s attorneys claimed during the trial that she had been “glued” to the player while dancing in a nightclub.
Alves was a key member of a formidable Barcelona team that won 126 caps for Brazil and the Copa America twice, winning the title six times.
Along with Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, he also won European league titles.
Source: Channels TV
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