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7 months ago
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Former FC Barcelona, Sevilla FC and Brazil defender Dani Alves appeared in court today for the first day of his trial.
The 40-year-old defender is accused of rape and has spent the last year in prison awaiting trial, in preventive detention for flight risk. As MD reports, Alves will testify last in the case with 28 witnesses, including his wife Joana Sanz, who separated from him after the scandal broke. Alves’ lawyer claimed his client had a negative bank balance of €20k, and a legal embargo on €50k in assets, although Marca reports his fortune is around €55m.
The defense also claimed that Alves did not receive a fair trial. First, this claim is based on the fact that Alves did not take a blood test for alcohol and other drugs, which could have been considered a mitigating factor and allowed to reduce the sentence.
An unfair trial?
Second, the defense claimed that the public trial via media had been unfair and unequal, portraying Alves as an aggressive rapist without reporting all the facts. It was also claimed that Alves only gave two testimonies about the events of the night of the incident, instead of the five publicly reported.
The prosecution scoffed at allegations that Alves had money problems and defended the fact that the only public figure involved was Alves, who was given all the same rights as any other person. Regardless, the judge denied the request for a postponement and a mistrial. If Alves is found guilty of rape, he faces a sentence of 9 to 12 years in prison and will have to pay compensation of 150,000 euros to the victim.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
