Former Manchester United footballer Ryan Giggs has been acquitted of all domestic violence charges against him after prosecutors dropped the case ahead of a scheduled retrial.
The 49-year-old Welsh sports icon was facing charges of assaulting and use of coercive behavior against his former girlfriend Kate Greville and her sister Emma. He had denied the allegations.
Last year, a jury failed to reach a verdict after over 20 hours of deliberation following a month-long trial. A retrial was set to begin this week on July 31st, 2023.
However, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) told the court on Tuesday there was “no longer sufficient evidence” to proceed with the case. Complainants were unwilling to testify again after the toll of the first trial.
“We have determined there is no longer sufficient evidence available to proceed in respect of the controlling or coercive behaviour charge and that it is no longer in the public interest to prosecute the remaining assault charges,” the CPS said.
Consequently, Judge Hilary Manley declared Giggs not guilty on all three counts. The former footballer has maintained his innocence throughout the case.
In 2021 when the charges emerged, Giggs was removed from his position as manager of the Wales national team, a role he had held since 2018.
Giggs enjoyed an illustrious 24-year career at Manchester United where he won 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies among many others.
