Manchester City's Benjamin Mendy to go on trial in January on rape charges

It was learned last week that Manchester City defender and France international Benjamin Mendy had his bail application denied after he was previously charged with four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. 

According to PA Media (h/t Sky Sports), Mendy is next due in court Nov. 15, when an application can be filed to dismiss all the charges against the 27-year-old. Assuming the case continues from there, the trial is set to begin on Jan. 24, 2022. 

Mendy was first charged Aug. 26, and it was later confirmed he is facing three counts of rape regarding an alleged incident in October of last year. He is also facing allegations of sexually assaulting a woman in early January 2021 and of a fourth rape last month. 

One of the reported victims is under the age of 18, and all of the incidents are said to have occurred in the footballer's home. A 40-year-old man later identified as Louis Saha Matturie is charged with four counts of rape as part of the same investigation. 

City suspended the three-time Premier League and two-time English League Cup winner after he was formally charged.