Former Barcelona and Brazil footballer Dani Alves is currently on trial in Spain, accused of raping a woman in a nightclub.
The 40-year-old has been held in custody without bail for over a year since the alleged incident occurred in December 2022.
If convicted, Alves could face up to 12 years in prison.
Initially, Alves denied knowing his accuser, but later admitted to consensual sexual relations.
His trial is scheduled to conclude on Wednesday, with over 30 individuals, including Alves and his estranged wife, expected to testify.
Despite Alves’s request to postpone the trial for more preparation time, the Barcelona court denied it, rejecting his assertion of a media-driven trial.
The accuser, who appeared behind a screen to safeguard her identity, alleged that Alves lured her into a VIP nightclub toilet and coerced her into intercourse.
Testimonies from the woman’s cousin and a friend, present at the nightclub, suggested Alves had previously made advances toward them.
They also revealed the woman’s initial reluctance to report the incident out of fear of disbelief.
In Spain, rape allegations fall under the broader category of sexual assault, carrying sentences of four to 15 years upon conviction.
The public prosecutor seeks a nine-year prison term for Alves, along with €150,000 (£128,000) in damages to the woman.
Alves’s mother, Lucia Alves, who accompanied him to court, may face charges for revealing the accuser’s identity on social media, breaching court-ordered anonymity.
Alves, a highly decorated footballer, has played for renowned clubs like Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain, with a career spanning over 400 appearances for Barcelona, including numerous league and Champions League titles.
Despite his accolades, his contract with Mexican club Pumas UNAM was terminated in January 2023.
Source-BBC
