the group went back to benjamin mendy�*s mansion in cheshire.en she says the footballer walked into the bathroom. the woman gave evidence via pre—recorded video, which was played to the jury. the court heard her describe trying to push benjamin mendy away. she says she spoke to him in his native french, urging him to stop. but she says that he had a predatory look on his face and that he pulled her onto the bed, exposing himself. she said, "i just kept thinking, where are his friends? why aren't they here? should i scream? what am i going to do?" the woman said she kept trying to wriggle out and can't remember how it ended, but that she was able to leave. benjamin mendy is charged with attempted rape in connection with the alleged incident. he denies it and all the other charges against him, including eight counts of rape against other women. judith moritz, bbc news chester. our top story this evening... inflation has reached double figures for the first time in 40 years, driven by steeper than expected rises in the cost of food and drink, and c

at the start of his trial today, benjamin mendy was described as a "reasonably famous footballer".france in 2018. and about his success with manchester city, which the jury heard gave him wealth and status, and a privileged and moneyed lifestyle. but, the prosecution said, this case has little to do with football. instead, tim craig qc said... the jury was told that this man, louis saha matturie, was a friend of benjamin mendy�*s and acted as his fixer, arranging parties and introducing the footballer to young women. it's said by the prosecution a stream of women were brought to mr mendy�*s mansion in cheshire, and there many were raped and sexually assaulted. each man is accused of eight rape offences. they were described as predators — between them, attacking 13 women. the court heard that behind the gates of the mansion, the girls were rendered vulnerable, that they had their phones taken away and that some were attacked inside rooms with high—security locks. but the jury was told that there's little dispute about whether or not sex took place and that this is a case which rests

at the start of his trial today, benjamin mendy was described as a "reasonably famous footballer".ut his success with manchester city, which the jury heard gave him wealth and status, and a privileged and moneyed lifestyle. but, the prosecution said, this case has little to do with football. instead, tim craig qc said... the jury was told that this man, louis saha matturie, was a friend of benjamin mendy�*s and acted as his fixer, arranging parties and introducing the footballer to young women. it's said by the prosecution a stream of women were brought to mr mendy�*s mansion in cheshire, and there many were raped and sexually assaulted. each man is accused of eight rape offences. they were described as predators — between them, attacking 13 women. the court heard that behind the gates of the mansion, the girls were rendered vulnerable, that they had their phones taken away and that some were attacked inside rooms with high—security locks. but the jury was told that there's little dispute about whether or not sex took place and that this is a case which rests on consent. they were

at the start of his trial today, benjamin mendy was described as a reasonably famous footballer.ster city, which the jury heard gave him wealth and status and a privileged and moneyed lifestyle. but the prosecution said this case has little to do with football. instead, tim craig qc said... "it's another chapter in a very old story. men who rape and sexually assault women because they think they are powerful and because they think they can get away with it." the jury was told that this man, louis saha matturie, was a friend of benjamin mendy�*s and acted as his fixer, arranging parties and introducing the football to young women. it said a stream of women were brought to mr mendy�*s mansion in cheshire and there, many were raped and sexually assaulted. each man is accused of eight rape offences. they were described as predators — between them, attacking 13 women. the court heard that behind the gates of the mansion, the girls were rendered vulnerable, that they had their phones taken away and that some were attacked inside rooms with high security locks. but the jury was told tha

benjamin mendy is on trial for multiple counts of rape and sexual assault.else did the court here? today the court heard _ what else did the court here? today the court heard and _ what else did the court here? today the court heard and watched - what else did the court here? today the court heard and watched a - what else did the court here? irr— the court heard and watched a police interview with the young woman who said she was raped by benjamin mendy in what she called the longest day of her life. she explained how she had gone to a bar in the village of alderley edge with some friends and they had met three men who sat at her table and invited her back for a party. thejury her table and invited her back for a party. the jury heard the woman say to mr mendy that he had taken her phone and she wanted it back. he said she was afraid of her posting photographs on social media and he could find by his club. she followed him to a bedroom to try and get the phone back. she says that he attacked her and raped her. he told her, if she didn't say anything to anyb

benjamin mendy, 28 years old, away.erhaps of bother with a very similar name but the man on trial here it is important to say he is not connected with this trial. he is 41, described in court as a fixer and rent out benjamin mendy pull some the allegation is he helped find young women and create situations where they could be right and sexually assaulted and the men the prosecution says would not take no burners. thejury has been told that benjamin mendy�*s house can be described as eight mansion and we have seen video evidence this afternoon taken by police officers who were searching the house, using a body camera. the footage has shown the swimming pool, the gym, the living area and also mr mendy�*s main bedroom is well. the prosecution says a central issue of the case is consent and in this day and age now must mean no. the prosecution as well as all that has outlined what happened when mr mendy was arrested and interviewed by the police in various interviews he gave no comment to the questions, and in other intervi

. >> benjamin mendy appeared in court wednesday to face charges of rape and sexual assault.e pled not guilty on all counts. antonio kerrigan has the story. reporter: at a cot in nthern england, benjamin mendy has arrived in court to face charges of eight rapes, one attentive d -- one attempted rape and other sexual assaults. the manchester city defender pleads not guilty on all counts. the footballer was incarcerated in august, 2021. remaining behind bars until january this year in liverpool, he has been released on bail. he made his french premier league debut. the left back made the squad for the world championship in 2018. his lifestyle has drawn criticism, including from the french manager. once the rising star, he became the most expensive defender in history when manchester city bought him for 61 million euros, a club where he has now not played for one year. the prosecution will open monday in a set trial to last three months. >> in france, a sad ending for a beluga whale stranded in the s eine river. rescue operators in the end decided the whale had to be euthanized.

manchester city footballer, benjamin mendy, has gone on trial, accused of eight counts of rape, one ofagainst seven young women. the jury at chester crown court heard the offences are alleged to have taken place at mr mendy�*s cheshire home, between october 2018 and august 2021. the 28—year—old french international denies all charges. judith moritz has this report. benjamin minjee was described as a reasonably famous footballer. the court heard about his world cup victory with brunson 2018 and about his success with manchester city, which the jury heard gave success with manchester city, which thejury heard gave him wealth and status, but the prosecutions of this case has little to do with football. instead, another chapter in a very old story. thejury the jury was told that this man, lewis saw her maturity was a friend of him and acted as his fixture demographics. it is said by the prosecution a stream of women were brought to his mansion in cheshire and their many were raped and sexually assaulted. each man is accused of eight rape offences was that they were described as predators,

today, benjamin mendy and another man sat in the dock.entialjurors, they were all given questionnaires to fill in to work out whether they were appropriate to sit on the case. amongst other things, because of the nature of benjamin mendy�*s career, whether they have any connection or affiliation to manchester city or manchester united football club. they were also asked if the had any connection to five footballers who have might have connection to the case. these are riyad mahrez, john stones, raheem sterling, kyle walker... 0nce stones, raheem sterling, kyle walker... once it was satisfied that the jurors walker... once it was satisfied that thejurors had none of the connection to these footballers, and had no other affiliations, the jurors were chosen, and the trial is due to last 15 weeks. both men deny all of the counts that they are faced with. some news to bring you breaking in the last few minutes from scotland, the bbc has been told that one person has died after incidents on the isle of skye and lochalsh. a man has been arrested

benjamin mendy is a footballer with manchester city and won the world cup with france as well. be raped and sexually assaulted. and then, the prosecution says, would not take no for an answer. thejury says, would not take no for an answer. the jury has says, would not take no for an answer. thejury has been says, would not take no for an answer. the jury has been told that mr mendy�*s house could be described as a mention in this afternoon we have seen video footage taken by a police officer during a search of the house and a body camera. it is shown in the gym, the swimming pool, the locks on the door of mr mendy�*s house that were there to safeguard him in case there had ever been a break—in at his property. thejury was told that the average age of the women involved in the allegations against the two men is 20 years old and nine months. one of them was just 17 years old and the prosecution say on this day and age consent is given. no one, they say, can doubt that no means no. the jury has been told, as i say, to expect this trial to last for about 15 weeks until november and

benjamin mendy faces eight counts of rape, one of attempted rape and one of sexual assault.counts of rape and four of sexual assault. both men does i —— denial charges. the prosecution say the issue in this case is one is consent and said the men did not seek or try to find out if they had consent for their actions. they regarded the women as disposable, things to be used as sex and thrown away. mendy is 28 years old and also a world cup winner with france. as for the other man on trial, you'll know of a famous footballer who has a very similar name. he's not to be confused with a man who's standing on trial. lewis zohar maturity is 41 and is important to say he's unconnected to the man with a very similar name. lewis was described as a helper, a fixer, a friend of mr mendy, who lived at a house that was paid for by mr mendy. the allegation as he would go out and find young women and create situations where they could be raped and sexually assaulted. the men would not take no for an answer, say the prosecution. the average age of the women who made the allegations against bo

the jury was told that this man was a friend of benjamin mendy�*s and his fixer arranging parties andes of the mansion the girls were rendered vulnerable, they had their phones take it away and some were attacked inside rooms with security locks. but the jury was told there is little dispute about whether or not such birthdays. it's a case which rests on consent. they were told the defendant say the women were willing and enthusiastic but the prosecution case says there is abundant evidence to the contrary. it was said that benjamin mendy and he turned the pursuit of women into a game repeatedly ignoring the fact they had been consented. the qc said... you both at deny all the charges against them. the trial is expected to last for nearly four months. downing street has subscribed... —— suggestions by iran that salman rushdie and his supporters can only blame themsleves for the attack which has left the author critically injured as "ludicrous". iran has also denied any links to the man who stabbed the 75—year—old at a book fair in new york state. our north america correspondent, nomia

the start of footballer benjamin mendy�*s trial is the lead for the metro.e the taliban returned to power in afghanistan — the ft pictures soldiers supporting the group celebrating in kabul today. and finally, the daily express says liz truss is vowing to reject a second scottish independence referendum if she becomes prime minister next month. and we will know soon enough the papers say. as many as three quarters of tory members have voted. penny, do you want to kick us off, please, with some good news on covid on the front of the i? it is. please, with some good news on covid on the front of the i?— on the front of the i? it is, and we have been hearing _ on the front of the i? it is, and we have been hearing it _ on the front of the i? it is, and we have been hearing it on _ on the front of the i? it is, and we have been hearing it on your - have been hearing it on your programme today, about 25 million to be offered this new dual vaccine, which seems to be able to do with the original covid and the latest omicron, which is the... what are we up omicron,

prosecutors have described the manchester city footballer, benjamin mendy, as a predator, on the openingfor alleged rape. the 28—year—old and his friend, louis saha matturie, are accused of attacking seven women. they deny all the charges against them. now to afghanistan, where it's a year since the taliban dramatically and unexpectedly returned to power after the chaotic withdrawal of international forces. their return prompted a desperate exodus, with many who tried to flee having worked alongside international forces and agencies. but the vast majority of afghans remain in their homeland and are now facing an economic crisis, severe food shortages and the roll back of what progress there had been for women and girls. our correspondent yogita limaye, reports from kabul. a song of defiance. "if they fight us again, we'll pray the world is destroyed." the taliban erupted in a spontaneous celebration. at kabul�*s main square, hundreds gathered to mark one year since they walked into this city and took over afghanistan. carrying american weapons, fighters and their commanders now trying to

the manchester city footballer benjamin mendy has gone on trial accused of eight counts of rape, oneault against seven young women. the jury at chester crown court heard the offences are alleged to have taken place at mr mendy�*s cheshire mansion between october 2018 and august 2021. the 28 year old french international denies all the charges. now to afghanistan, where it's a year since the taliban dramatically and unexpectedly returned to power after the chaotic withdrawal of international forces. their return prompted a desperate exodus, with many who tried to flee having worked alongside international forces and agencies. but the vast majority of afghans remain in their homeland and are now facing an economic crisis, severe food shortages and the roll back of what progress there had been for women and girls. our correspondent yogita limaye, reports from kabul... a song of defiance. "if they fight us again, we'll pray the world is destroyed." the taliban erupted in a spontaneous celebration. at kabul�*s main square, hundreds gathered to mark one year since they walked into this cit

thejury in the rape trial of former manchester city footballer benjamin mendy has heard from the firstas he pursued her around his cheshire mansion. he denies eight counts of rape, one of attempted rape and one of sexual assault. the former manchester united footballer, ryan giggs broke down in court today, recalling the night he spent in a police cell, after being arrested on suspicion of assaulting his ex girlfriend. he denies using controlling and coercive behaviour, as well as assault, against kate greville. the monty python star and director, terry gilliam, has told the bbc that "theatres have got to be braver". in his first broadcast interview since london's old vic cancelled his production of into the woods last year, gilliam also warned that we're "living in a time when thoughts are dangerous". it comes after some old vic theatre staff were said to be unhappy, about the director's remarks about trans rights and the metoo movement. the musical was picked up by the theatre royal in bath, and opened this evening. our culture editor katie razzall has been speaking to terry gilliam

prosecutors have described the manchester city footballer, benjamin mendy, as a predator, on the openingpe. the 28—year—old and his friend, louis saha matturie, are accused of attacking seven women. they deny all the charges against them. people in the uk aged over 50, and the clinically vulnerable, will be the first to receive a new vaccine which protects against the original strain of coronavirus and the now—dominant omicron variant. it will be offered as an autumn booster in the uk — the first country in the world to approve it. we can now speak to drjohn swartzberg, who's a clinical professor emeritus at uc berkeley school of public health. a warm welcome to the programme. a new vaccine, new booster autumn, what do you make of this latest offering to counter covid—i9? make of this latest offering to counter covid-19?_ make of this latest offering to counter covid-19? well we have been talking _ counter covid-19? well we have been talking about _ counter covid-19? well we have been talking about this - counter covid-19? well we have been talking about this for - been talking about thi

the start of footballer benjamin mendy�*s trial is the lead for the metro.ear since the taliban returned to power in afghanistan, the ft pictures soldiers supporting the group celebrating in kabul today. the daily express says liz truss is vowing to reject a second scottish independence referendum if she becomes prime minister next month. and the telegraph has a picture of removal vans outside number 10, with the headline "johnson checks out...and into chequers". penny and digby, digby, do you want to kick us off this time with the front of the times? we are mixing up the stories, we have got almost completely a different set of stories, and also i have to put the stick about, so we need to get more stories this time. laughter i was being too liberal as a presenter! we cannot have that sort of thing. imilli! presenter! we cannot have that sort of thin. ~ , ., presenter! we cannot have that sort ofthin~.~ , ., _ of thing. will be in detention by friday... laughter _ friday... laughter over to _ friday. . . laughter over to you, - friday... laughter over to yo

his co—accused, 41 years old, is accused as the fixer for benjamin mendy and one of his roles was to pulled over for a second time by seven armed police officers. sprinter ricardo dos santos posted several videos on twitter of him being pulled over and questioned by police in paddington in london at 4am on sunday. our reporter celestina olulode has been following the story. they stopped him, he says, because they thought mr dos santos has published a series of tweets and some video footage. he says the rest is with his lawyer. he says he stopped when it was safe to do so. but he says that two officers ran towards either side of his car, with one clenching his fist and taking out a batton. now as you said earlier on, the sprinter was allegedly racially profiled when he was stopped with his partner, bianca williams, injuly 2020. they were both handcuffed, stopped by police. their three—month—old baby was with them at the time. and as a result of research, five officers are facing a gross misconduct hearing. well, the metropolitan police have released a statement. they confirmed that th

a woman who says she was raped by benjamin mendy, has told a court she repeatedly told the manchesternst him. 0ur correspondent nick garnett has been following the case at chester crown court — and you may find some of the detail in his report distressing. the jury today has been hearing from a police interview that a woman gave to the police in macclesfield police station in 2020, and she claimed that the attack that she claimed happened was the longest day of her life. the interview was recorded in november 2020 and in it, she explained how she had gone to a nightclub, a bar in cheshire, which is a fairly well—to—do part of the county, and a number of bars and nightclubs are in that area. on another table was the footballer jess lingard, and she was on a table with mr mendy, and some of his friends and they got invited back by mr mendy to his house in mottram st andrew and when she got there, she said that she had her mobile phone taken from her and mr mendy said she could not take any photographs inside the house because if the managerfound out, he would be heavily fined for being