RYAN Giggs today said he is “disappointed” to be facing a retrial over accusations he headbutted his ex-girlfriend – but vowed to clear his name.
The former footballer, 48, allegedly attacked PR exec Kate Greville, 38, and coercively controlled her over a three-year period.
He stood trial last month facing charges of actual bodily harm and controlling and coercive behaviour against her between December 2017 and November 2020.
He also denied the common assault by beating of Kate’s sister Emma on November 1, 2020.
But, after three weeks of evidence and 22 hours and 59 minutes of deliberations, jurors failed to reach a verdict and the trial collapsed.
At a case management hearing at Manchester Crown Court this morning, a judge ruled the ex-Wales boss will be retried on domestic violence charges next year.
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In a statement in response to the decision, Giggs said: “After more than three weeks in court I am obviously disappointed that a retrial has been ordered.
“My not guilty plea remains in relation to all charges. I am confident that justice will eventually be done and my name will be cleared of all the allegations.
“I would like to thank my legal team, my mum, my children, my girlfriend Zara, as well as my closest friends, for their support throughout this period.
“I understand the level of interest and the scrutiny around this case but I would like to ask that my and my family’s privacy is respected in the weeks and months ahead.”
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A trial date was set for July 31, 2023 – 143 weeks and one day after he was arrested.
Giggs, who is on bail, did not appear, but was spotted behind the wheel of his Range Rover in Cheshire just 30 minutes later.
During last month’s explosive trial that saw the sports star break down in tears, Kate claimed she became “a slave to his every need”.
She said Giggs “made me feel like I had to do what he said, otherwise there were consequences” – which he denied.
The court heard how Kate confronted her then-partner about his infidelity after finding “evidence” he had cheated on her with eight women when he allegedly headbutted her in the face.
In later messages read out to the jury this rose to at least 12, and the former Manchester United ace’s love life was laid bare as he admitted he had never been faithful to any woman, including Kate and ex-wife Stacey Giggs.
Jurors were also told how the couple exchanged 19,671 messages during their relationship.
In one, he told Kate: “I’ll stalk you like mad – I’m good at that”, while in another he warned her: “I’m so f***ing mad… I am scaring myself. I could do anything.”
He was also accused of bombarding her with sexual texts and threatening to publicly share X-rated videos of them together if she didn’t reply.
Kate said in a police statement, which was read out in court: “He wouldn’t leave me alone.”
‘HE WOULDN’T LEAVE ME ALONE’
Giggs later admitted he is unable to resist an “attractive woman” – regardless of whether he’s in a relationship.
He later confessed that he lied to former wife Stacey and other girlfriends, including Kate, “many times” – but denied being controlling.
Moments after he began giving evidence, Chris Daw QC, defending, asked: “You’re known in news articles as a love cheat. Is that reputation justified?”
Giggs – who confirmed he’s a “flirt by nature” – replied: “Yes.”
The barrister said: “In the course of your relationship with women, have you managed to be faithful to any of them?”
The footballer said: “No.”
He was also accused of cheating on Kate with a mystery cricketer’s wife, having “full on relationships” with several others, and even plotting threesomes with a woman named Charlotte.
But former Man Utd manager Sir Alex Ferguson hailed Giggs a “quiet boy” with a “fantastic temperament” who was the “best example” at the club.
He claimed he was “very much a gentleman” and insisted he had “never even seen him raise his voice”.
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Giggs won 64 caps for Wales and had a lengthy playing career with Manchester United, winning 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, four FA Cups and three League Cups.
He is also a co-owner of League Two side Salford City.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
