Yahoo News Ryan Giggs retrial for domestic abuse abandoned
The former Manchester United and Wales footballer faced a retrial, but prosecutors have said the case has been dropped.
Ryan Giggs' retrial on domestic violence charges has been abandoned after lawyers withdrew the prosecution.
Giggs, 49, was due to go on trial for a second time on July 31, accused of controlling or coercive behaviour towards his ex-girlfriend Kate Greville, 39, between August 2017 and November 2020.
Giggs was also accused of assault by “losing control” and headbutting her and the common assault of Ms Greville’s sister, Emma, by elbowing her in the jaw, during a row at his home in Worsley, Greater Manchester, on November 1 2020.
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He denied the offences and underwent a month-long trial, ending last August when the jury failed to reach any verdicts.
Prosecutors then sought and were granted an application for a retrial, scheduled to begin on July 31, after telling Judge Hilary Manley that the complainants were willing to give evidence at a second trial.
But on Tuesday, prosecutor Peter Wright KC told Manchester Crown Court that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) were now no longer proceeding with the case.
Who is Ryan Giggs?
The former Manchester United and Wales player is widely regarded as one of the best footballers of his generation.
Giggs spent his entire club career at Old Trafford, winning a record 13 Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues and four FA Cups.
Read more: Ryan Giggs to face a retrial over domestic violence charges
He was briefly the club's interim manager towards the end of the 2013/14 season.
Giggs is the co-owner of League Two side Salford City.
He played 64 times for Wales between 1991 and 2007, and became the national side's manager in January 2018.
He resigned in June 2022 ahead of his trial on domestic violence charges.
What was Ryan Giggs charged with?
Giggs was arrested on 3 November 2020 on suspicion of two counts of assault against his ex-girlfriend, Kate Greville, 38, and her younger sister, Emma.
In April 2021, Giggs was charged with assault causing actual bodily harm to Kate Greville and common assault against Emma Greville.
He was also charged with coercive and controlling behaviour against Kate Greville.
Giggs denied the charges and underwent a month-long trial.
What happened at Ryan Giggs's trial?
Giggs's trial began on 8 August 2022, with the ex-footballer pleading not guilty to all the charges, but the jury was unable to reach a verdict on any of the charges.
Watch: Ryan Giggs 'disappointed' after judge orders retrial
Prosecutors then sought and were granted an application for a retrial, scheduled to begin at the end of July, after telling Judge Hilary Manley that the complainants were willing to give evidence at a second trial
On 7 September 2022, Giggs said: “After more than three weeks in court I am obviously disappointed that a retrial has been ordered.
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“My not guilty plea remains in relation to all charges. I am confident that justice will eventually be done and my name will be cleared of all the allegations."
'Not a decision taken lightly'
On Tuesday, Manchester Crown Court heard that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had decided not to proceed with the case.
Wright said Kate Greville 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. He added: “This is not a decision taken lightly.”
He said there was no realistic prospect of conviction on count one, that of coercive and controlling behaviour, and it was no longer in the public interest to proceed to prosecute on the other charges of assault on Miss Greville and her sister.
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“That being the case, we formally offer no evidence on counts one, two and three," the lawyer added, to which Judge Hilary Manley replied: “I formally enter not guilty verdicts in respect of those counts.”
Following Tuesday's announcement, Chris Daw KC, defending Giggs, who was not present in court, said: “Mr Giggs is deeply relieved the prosecution has finally come to an end after almost three years in which he’s been fighting throughout to clear his name.
“He has always been innocent of these charges, there’s been very, very many lies told about him in court.
“He’s now been found not guilty of all the charges and going forward would like to rebuild his life and career as an innocent man.”
Watch: Ryan Giggs leaves court as jury fails to reach verdict
