Former Barcelona star Dani Alves faces 12 years in prison as he appears in court for trial on charges of ‘nightclub toilet rape’
Introduction to the article
Former Barcelona star Dani Alves is set to appear in court this morning as he is facing a 12-year prison sentence for rape. The 40-year-old Brazilian defender has been held on remand for more than a year at Brians 2 Prison near Barcelona and is being driven to court in a police van.
Accusation and Trial
State prosecutors are seeking to jail Alves for nine years if he is convicted of raping a woman at a Barcelona nightclub on December 30, 2022. The dad-of-two has insisted he had consensual sex with the woman in the nightclub’s toilet, but his female accuser’s lawyer is calling for the maximum 12-year prison sentence if he is found guilty.
Prosecution and Testimony
The trial is scheduled to last for three days and is set to start at 10am local time at Barcelona’s Audiencia Provincial Court. The judges will announce their decision in a written ruling within a fortnight of the trial ending. The accused has the option to take the stand on the last day of the trial.
Allegations and Witnesses
The woman who has accused Alves of rape has been given permission to testify behind-closed-doors. Witnesses such as her cousin, a female friend who were with her on the night of the alleged sex attack, and waiters from the VIP area of Sutton’s nightclub have been called to give evidence.
Legal Proceedings and Consequences
Alves has been sacked by his Mexican side UNAM Pumas following his arrest, and all of his bail requests have been denied. His mother named and pictured his accuser in a social media post, causing controversy and potential future legal consequences.
Background of Dani Alves
Dani Alves has had a successful football career, playing for top clubs such as Barcelona, Seville, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, and Sao Paulo. He became the oldest player to represent Brazil at the World Cup in December 2022 in Qatar.
