RYAN Giggs is no longer facing a retrial for allegedly attacking his ex after charges against him were dropped today.
The former Man Utd ace, 48, was accused of assaulting Kate Greville, 36, at his £1.7million home in Worsley, Greater Manchester, on November 1, 2020.
He was also charged with attacking her sister Emma Greville on the same date and controlling or coercive behaviour against Kate over a three-year period.
The Crown Prosecution Service today abandoned the charges ahead of a planned retrial on July 31.
Prosecutor Peter Wright KC told Manchester Crown Court they were formally offering no evidence.
The barrister said Kate had “indicated an unwillingness” to give evidence in a re-trial as giving evidence in the first trial had “taken its toll” on her and her sister Emma.
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Mr Wright also explained there was no realistic prospect of a conviction on the count of coercive control.
He told the court it was therefore no longer in the public interest to proceed to prosecute on the other charges of assault.
The prosecutor added: “That being the case, we formally offer no evidence on counts one, two and three.”
Speaking after the decision, Giggs’ lawyer said he was “deeply relieved” after “fighting throughout” for three years to clear his name.
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He added: “He will now seek to rebuild his life as an innocent man”.
Jurors failed to reach a verdict following a three-week trial last August with a re-trial scheduled to begin on July 31.
Giggs stepped down as manager of the Wales international team in July last year in the wake of the allegations.
The ex-footballer, who won 64 caps for his country, had been on leave from his post since November 2020.
Giggs had a glittering 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.
Kate met Giggs when she was working on PR for his Hotel Football business venture, opposite Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium.
In April 2018 she was appointed head of PR and communications for GG Hospitality, the hospitality management firm co-owned by Giggs and former United team-mate Gary Neville.
She was involved in the launch of their Stock Exchange Hotel in Manchester city centre before she took up a new PR consultancy post last July with a former employer.
Giggs denied causing her actual bodily harm and engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour between December 2017 and November 2020.
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He also pleaded not guilty to the common assault by beating of Emma Greville.
The footballer previously issued a statement in which he said he would “look forward to clearing my name”.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
