- Title: Dani Alves' family and lawyers arrive to court ahead of sexual assault trial
- Date: 5th February 2024
- Summary: BARCELONA, SPAIN (FEBRUARY 5, 2024) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF CATALONIA'S HIGH COURT DANIEL ALVES' MOTHER DONA LUCIA AND ALVES' BROTHER SPEAKING OUTSIDE COURT DONA LUCIA WAITING OUTSIDE COURT ALVES' LAWYER INES GUARDIOLA ARRIVING AT COURT GUARDIOLA, GROUP OF LAWYERS AND ALVES' MOTHER WALKING INSIDE COURT POLICEMEN TALKING OUTSIDE COURT VICTIM'S LAWYER, ESTER GARCIA, ARRIVING AT COURT VARIOUS OF POLICE VAN BELIEVED TO BE CARRYING DANIEL ALVES ARRIVING AT COURT
- Embargoed: 19th February 2024 09:05
- Keywords: Barcelona Dani Alves Spain court sexual assault trial
- Location: BARCELONA, SPAIN
- City: BARCELONA, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Europe,Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001778205022024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Family members and lawyers of former Barcelona and Brazil footballer Dani Alves arrived on Monday (February 5) to Catalonia's High Court where the soccer star will stand trial over a claim that he sexually assaulted a woman in the bathroom of a nightclub in Barcelona in 2022.
Alves' mother Dona Lucia was seen outside the court with other family members waiting for lawyer Ines Guardiola before entering the court building.
The 40-year-old defender was arrested in January of last year in the Spanish city and has been held in prison since then.
Alves initially denied any sexual encounter with the woman whom he said he did not know.
He later said he had consensual sex with his accuser, saying he had denied it originally to protect his marriage.
The case has attracted significant attention not only because of Alves' profile but because sexual assault is a dominant political theme in Spain, more notably still following the alleged non-consensual kiss Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales planted on the lips of a female player following her team's Soccer World Cup win last August.
In Spain, a claim of rape is investigated under the general accusation of sexual assault and convictions can lead to jail time of between four and 15 years.
A Spanish public prosecutor is seeking a nine-year prison term and for Alves to pay damages worth 150,000 euros ($163,215.00) to the woman.
A panel of three judges will chair a trial expected to last three days at Barcelona's highest courthouse. It will include the testimony of Alves, the alleged victim and about 30 other people.
The alleged victim will testify from behind a screen and in the recording of the trial her voice and image will be distorted to protect her identity.
Alves is one of the most successful footballers in history having won more than 40 trophies for his country and clubs like Barcelona. Following his arrest, he was fired by Mexico's Pumas UNAM.
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