Daniel Alves sexual assault trial begins in Barcelona
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After more than a year in custody, Brazilian football player Daniel Alves appeared in a Barcelona court on Monday for the first day of his trail on charges of sexual assault.
The former Barcelona star is accused of having sexually assaulted a young woman at a Barcelona nightclub in December 2022. The player was arrested on January 20, 2023 amid fears that he was a flight risk.
Alves had offered to hand over his passport and wear a tracker, but the court considered the risk too great as Brazil does not extradite its citizens charged in foreign countries.
The trial is to last until Wednesday, when Alves is expected to testify, and state prosecutors are seeking a nine-year prison sentence.
The alleged victim was the first to testify on Monday. As previously communicated, it was completely confidential and held behind closed doors to protect her identity.
Alves has denied any wrongdoing, but he has changed his testimony several times. Initially, he said he had never seen the woman and denied and sexual contact with her.
Later, he admitted that they had had a sexual encounter, but claimed it was consensual.
