CRISTIANO Ronaldo wants to block the release of dozens of witness statements in his Las Vegas rape case – because it could put people at “significant risk of harassment”.
Lawyers for the Man Utd ace have filed two separate responses in an ongoing legal battle to stop the release of police files in the 2009 case.
The files include a cache of recorded interviews, witness statements, emails, CCTV footage and medical reports.
The New York Times first launched a legal bid to get their hands on the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department files, but have faced stern opposition.
Ronaldo’s legal team first argued that much of the information in the files was obtained illegally by the Football Leaks website.
But now, according to a new legal filing obtained by The Sun, the star’s lawyers say witnesses in the case would be put at “risk” if they are outed.
They argue that the files shouldn’t be published for the safety of Ronaldo and his accuser, Kathryn Mayorga, as well as key witnesses and anyone who offered information, who could suffer “potentially serious reputational harm”.
The submissions filed on February 8 state: “The persons named in LVMPD’s file, as well as those who provided information contained therein, have a strong interest in ‘not being associated unwarrantedly with alleged criminal activity’.
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“Plaintiff, Defendant, and the witnesses who were interviewed as part of the reopened investigation all have non-trivial privacy interests.”
The documents went on to say Ronaldo is a “famous athlete” who garners “substantial media attention”, which the lawyers say creates a “significant risk of harassment” to witnesses should the files be disclosed.
The paperwork added: “Disclosure of any portion of LVMPD’s file would certainly infringe upon those privacy interests and result in undeserved embarrassment and potentially serious reputational harm.”
The Sun has reached out to Ronaldo’s representatives for comment.
One potential high profile witness could be LA socialite Paris Hilton.
Just hours before heading to Vegas, Ronaldo partied the night away with the blonde heiress until the early hours of June 11 at MyHouse club in Los Angeles.
He reportedly hooked up with her that night, before making his way to Vegas the next day, where he encountered Mayorga.
It’s possible police took a statement from the heiress to establish Ronaldo’s behaviour in the 24 hours before the alleged rape.
Another witness in the case could be the Portuguese superstar’s mum Dolores, who according to reports, was staying at the same hotel as her son in LA before he travelled to Vegas.
PRIVACY INTERESTS VS PUBLIC INTEREST
Ronaldo was in Sin City partying with his brother-in-law and cousin, among others, who all could be potential witnesses.
The court paperwork submitted by the star’s lawyers says anyone who gave info to the police could be at risk.
The documents state: “Disclosure of the witness statements even in redacted form coupled with the number of various news articles and media reports concerning this matter creates a significant risk that those witness’ identities will be revealed.
“A balancing of the privacy interests at issue against the public interest in disclosure strongly militates against disclosure.”
Ronaldo’s lawyers had already filed a “protective order” to prevent the 400-plus documents being released by cops in November while it was argued in court.
Last Tuesday Judge Jennifer A Dorsey heard legal arguments from both sides at a court hearing.
A final hearing, which should deliver a ruling in the case, will be scheduled for a later date.
Ronaldo has fiercely denied raping Kathryn Mayorga at the Palms Hotel and Casino on 12 June, 2009.
Ron, 37, settled with his accuser in a civil case where she accepted a £276,000 “hush” payment, but she is now seeking a further £56 million in damages.
The police probe into the alleged sex attack was dropped in July, 2019, but the civil case is ongoing.
Ronaldo’s legal team has always claimed that the police investigated the alleged rape twice in 2009 and 2018 – and found there was no case to answer.
And the star himself maintains he had consensual sex with Mayorga.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
