Ex-Barça-Star
Dani Alves denies sexual assault allegations in court
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The former professional footballer from Brazil is suspected of abusing a woman in a nightclub.
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A young woman accuses the ex-Barça star of sexual assault, and he speaks in court of a consensual encounter. Dani Alves faces a long prison sentence if convicted.
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Barcelona. In the sexual assault trial, professional footballer Dani Alves denied the young woman’s allegations. “I’m not that type of man, I’m not a violent man,” the 40-year-old replied in a court in Barcelona on Wednesday when asked by his lawyer whether he had forced the woman to have sex. “She never told me to stop. We both enjoyed ourselves,” Alves added.
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Alves is accused of sexually assaulting the young woman in a nightclub in the Catalan city on New Year’s Eve 2022. She testified in court that she first danced with Alves and then went with him to the toilet area. But when she wanted to leave later, he didn’t let her. He beat her, insulted her and forced her into sexual acts against her will.
Alves changes statements in court several times
The three-day trial ended on Wednesday evening. If convicted, the public prosecutor’s office has demanded nine years in prison for Alves, while the alleged victim’s lawyers are demanding twelve years in prison. Alves’ defense has asked for an acquittal – or, in the event of a guilty verdict, for a one-year prison sentence for her client and an order for compensation of 50,000 euros for the alleged victim.
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The Brazilian soccer player has changed his statement about the alleged incident several times. At first he denied ever seeing the woman, immediately after his arrest he denied any sexual contact with her, and three months later he admitted a sexual encounter with her that was consensual. He justified his previous statements to the contrary by saying that he wanted to save his marriage. He changed his lawyers three times.
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Formerly with Barcelona, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain
Alves has been in custody since the end of January 2023. His bail applications were rejected because the court saw a risk of absconding. Brazil does not extradite its own citizens if they are convicted in other countries. Alves previously played for top clubs such as Barcelona, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain. With the Brazilian national team he won the Copa América twice and a gold medal at the Olympic Games.
RND/AP