Former Barcelona star Dani Alves has been ordered to stand trial for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in a nightclub.
The 40-year-old Brazil international was informed of the news at the prison near Barcelona, where he has been kept in preventative custody since January 20 following his arrest. Three judges at Barcelona’s Provincial Court said in a written document, made public on Tuesday: “We consider there is sufficient prima facie evidence at this stage to agree the opening of the trial in the terms requested by state prosecutors and the prosecutor acting privately for the alleged victim.
“The statements the alleged victim has made and witness evidence and expert reports that form part of these proceedings can be considered as sufficient in that regard, without prejudice to the final verdict.”
The 23-year-old alleged victim claims she was sexually assaulted on December 30 last year. Alves denies any wrongdoing and said sex with the accuser was consensual.
State prosecutors and the alleged victim’s lawyer will now be given five working days to present their indictments, outlining the prison sentence and fines and compensation orders they are seeking for the footballer if he is found guilty. His defence lawyer will also be given the same amount of time to present his arguments in writing and is expected to insist Alves should be acquitted of any wrongdoing.
Police investigating sexual assault at nightclub allegedly involving Dani Alves
Dani Alves is being held at the Brians 2 Prison near Barcelona (David Zorrakino/Getty Images)No date for the trial has been set, but it is expected to take place early next year. Reports in Spain have pointed to him facing a prison sentence of up to 15 years if convicted.
The dad-of-two was sacked by Mexican side UNAM Pumas following his arrest in Barcelona at the start of this year. He has made repeated bail requests but they have all been turned down, with judges saying his alleged victim’s version of events was coherent and pointing out Alves had changed his story several times as the evidence authorities have against him has emerged.
Alves claimed before his arrest he had never met his female accuser but ended up backtracking after being held. He went on to admit he cheated on his model wife Joana Sanz with her but insisted sex was consensual.
Dani Alves and Joana Sanz in October 2021 (JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)In an exclusive interview from his cell in Brians 2 Prison near Barcelona in June with Spanish TV and newspaper reporter Mayka Navarro, he claimed: “The only person I have to ask for forgiveness is my wife, Joana Sanz. I have already done that here in prison, but I have to do it publicly, because the story is public, the offence I caused her is public and she deserves that public apology.”
He added: “I can only think that she felt bad after having sex, that she took a decision and that she has not been capable of getting herself out of the mess she’s got into and has got me into.
“I appeal to her conscience. There hasn’t been a single night that I haven’t slept well. Not a single night. My conscience is clear. I’ve never voluntarily hurt anyone. And I didn’t hurt her that night either. I don’t know if her conscience is clear and if she sleeps well at night. But I forgive her.”
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