Olivia Bothamley-Dakin
Former Manchester United player, Ryan Giggs has arrived at court today to face trial for attacking and controlling his ex-girlfriend.
Giggs, 48, is accused of using controlling and coercive behaviour against Kate Greville a PR executive between August 2017 and November 2020.
He is also facing charges for actual bodily harm against Mrs Greville and for common assault of her younger sister, Emma Greville, at his million-pound home in Worsley, Greater Manchester, on 1 November 2020.
The hearing today is taking place at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court. The trial transfers permanently to the Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday.
The trial, before Judge Hilary Manley, is expected to last up to 10 days.
Giggs arrived in court today surrounded by a swarm of press photographers and cameras, wearing a dark suit and stern expression.
A jury will be selected today. Around 30 reporters filled the court gallery to watch the trial. More are watching remotely.
Giggs was initially meant to face trial in January earlier this year, but the hearing was delayed because of the ongoing backlog of court cases caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Giggs, previously manager of the Wales national team has taken a period of leave since November 2020.
In a statement, he announced that he did not want Wales’ World Cup preparations to be “affected, destabilised or jeopardised in any way by the continued interest around this case”.
During Giggs’ time at Manchester United, he won 13 Premier League titles, four FA cups and three League Cups.
He earned 64 caps for Wales during his time as a player.
Image courtesy of Gordon Flood via Flickr. Image licence found here. No changes were made to this image.
Olivia Bothamley-Dakin
Olivia is a recent graduate of History at Durham University. She is working freelance this summer and starting at News Associates in September.