Ryan Giggs’ domestic violence charges dropped by CPS as Man Utd legend cleared
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Former Manchester United star Ryan Giggs' retrial over domestic violence allegations has been abandoned.
It comes after charges were withdrawn by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) at a hearing at Manchester Crown Court.
The hearing was to be the second time the 49-year-old was tried over the claims.
He was on trial last summer for assaulting and causing actual bodily harm to his former partner, Kate Greville, and using controlling and coercive behaviour against her between August 2017 to November 2020.
Giggs was also charged with the common assault of Ms Greville's younger sister Emma, though the Red Devils legend denies the allegations against him.
Speaking on the charges being dropped, Peter Wright KC told Manchester Crown Court that Giggs’ ex-girlfriend Kate Greville had “indicated an unwillingness” to give evidence in a re-trial. Giving evidence in the first trial was said to have “taken its toll” on her and her sister Emma.
Mr Wright said: “This is not a decision taken lightly."
He said there was no realistic prospect of conviction on count one, that of coercive and controlling behaviour, and it was no longer in the public interest to proceed to prosecute on the other charges of assault on Miss Greville and her sister.
He added: “That being the case, we formally offer no evidence on counts one, two and three," to which Judge Hilary Manley replied: “I formally enter not guilty verdicts in respect of those counts.”
Giggs had been accused of "losing control" and headbutting his ex-girlfriend on 1 November, 2020. It was also alleged that he elbowed her sister in the jaw on the same night during a row at his home in Worsley, Greater Manchester.
Chris Daw KC, defending Giggs, who was not present in court, said: “Mr Giggs is deeply relieved the prosecution has finally come to an end after almost three years in which he’s been fighting throughout to clear his name.
“He has always been innocent of these charges, there’s been very, very many lies told about him in court. He’s now been found not guilty of all the charges and going forward would like to rebuild his life and career as an innocent man.”
The 12-member jury was instructed to consider its verdict on 23 August 2022 after a one-month trial. However, one juror was discharged due to illness.
Judge Manley told the court she would accept a majority verdict where at least 10 of the 11 remaining jurors agreed. After deliberating for almost 23 hours, the jury of seven women and four men failed to agree verdicts on any of the charges.
It was then ruled last September that Giggs would face a retrial, which the former Wales national team manager said "disappointed" him.
- Manchester United FC
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