Ryan Giggs cleared of assault charges against ex-girlfriend
Posted : 18 July 2023
Ryan Giggs, former Manchester United footballer and ex-Wales manager, has been cleared of assault allegations against his ex-girlfriend and her sister. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) withdrew the charges at a hearing in Manchester Crown Court. Mr. Giggs, 48, has consistently denied the assault and controlling behavior allegations.
The retrial was initially scheduled to begin on July 31 at Manchester Crown Court, but the jury in the first trial failed to reach a verdict after more than 20 hours of deliberation last year. The decision to drop the charges came after the complainant, Kate Greville, indicated an unwillingness to testify again due to the toll it took on her and her sister during the first trial.
While the CPS no longer believes there is a realistic prospect of conviction on the charges, Mr. Giggs expressed relief that the case has come to an end after three years of fighting to clear his name. However, his future in football remains uncertain due to the reputational damage caused by the trial.
During the trial, Mr. Giggs admitted to being unfaithful in relationships but denied ever physically assaulting or attempting to control a woman. The alleged assault took place at his home in Worsley, Greater Manchester, in November 2020, following a heated argument.
Despite the dropped charges, the CPS encourages potential victims to come forward and report offenses to the police. Mr. Giggs had an illustrious career as a player, making 963 appearances for Manchester United and 64 appearances for Wales.
However, he resigned as Wales manager in June 2022 while awaiting trial, and his replacement, Robert Page, led the team to their first World Cup in 58 years in Qatar at the end of 2022.
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