and he said, benzema said to valbuena, i can help you put this to bed.of blackmailers who were trying to get money out of valbuena. benzema's defence says nothing of the kind, was acting as a friend to valbuena and wanted to advise him about how to excuse himself from a difficult situation. the crux of the matter in court will be that, whether benzema knew that he was acting in an attempt to extort money out of valbuena, even if it wasn't for him, for the others, whereas his defence is going to be that no, he was trying to simply help his team—mate in a difficult situation. let's look at some of the day's other news. a us arbitrator is recommending compensation be paid to a pubic official who was unfairly scapegoated following the city's water contamination scandal. lead poisoning in flint, michigan seven years ago killed 12 people. the arbitrator says that the state of michigan failed to showjust cause for sacking the of its drinking water office at the time, ——for sacking the offical its drinking water office at the time, liane shekter smith. russia ha

it is alleged black wheelers were trying to get money out of valbuena. difficult situation. benzema is one of five people on trial at this court in versailles. he's ridiculed the charge as a "masquerade" and faces up to five years in jail if he's found guilty. the trial will last three days. in court, mathieu valbuena said he'd never considered handing over money to stop the video getting out. and this is what he said outside. translation: today, it's been six ears translation: today, it's been six years since — translation: today, it's been six years since this _ translation: today, it's been six years since this case _ translation: today, it's been six years since this case has _ translation: today, it's been six years since this case has been i translation: today, it's been six| years since this case has been going on i_ years since this case has been going on i see _ years since this case has been going on. i see everybody is here, or nearly— on. i see everybody is here, or nearly as — on. i see everybody is here, or nearly as kareem is missing. it i

a pretty complex case, just outlined the background to all of it. 2015, karim benzema mathieu valbuenae that he has got, which is a sextape, he knows it's out there showing him, and karim benzema says to mature valbuena that he can help him, there won't be any coffees. the hosting hinges on whether she was helping blackmailers, or doing it out of concern for his team—mates and genuinely wanted to help the prosecution case clearly believes that benzema knew very well that he was acting on behalf or shady types, making an approach on them, and he wanted money from valbuena. that is why he is facing a charge and complicity in the attempted blackmail. no one is suggesting he wanted any money, he certainly didn't need it, but he was acting on behalf of people who knew. the first thing we are all looking forward to today's weather benzema with turned up. he hasn't, perfectly legitimate reasons, it was laid out first thing, he was in kiev last night, real madrid's bitchery there, so he won't be attending there is another big match on sunday, he will be attending that, they are angry, they thi