Focus on the BIG picture.
Wednesday, Apr 02, 2025
Outside the box.
Barcelona player Danny Alves cleared of rape allegations.
The Court of Appeal in Catalonia has reversed the original conviction, pointing out inconsistencies in the testimony of the complainant.
The Court of Appeal in Catalonia has cleared Barcelona footballer Danny Alves of rape allegations, reversing an earlier conviction that had imposed a sentence of four and a half years in prison.
The panel, made up of three women and one man, determined that the complainant's testimony lacked sufficient grounds for a conviction and that 'the principle of presumed innocence should take precedence' in this instance.
This ruling nullifies the prior decision made by the Barcelona court, which had accepted the complainant's claim that Alves engaged in non-consensual sex with her in a private area of a nightclub on December 30, 2022. Alves, who spent over a year in detention before being released on a one-million-euro bail, is now free to leave Spain.
The Court of Appeal criticized the initial verdict, pointing out 'inconsistencies and contradictions' in the complainant’s account.
The judges noted that security footage from the nightclub indicated 'prior consent' for entering the bathroom together, casting doubt on subsequent events that lacked supporting evidence.
Conversely, the original court ruling contended that these inconsistencies did not detract from the testimony's credibility.
The Court of Appeal dismissed this reasoning, asserting that if the initial part of the testimony contradicts reality, it also calls into question the reliability of the remainder of the account.
The panel, made up of three women and one man, determined that the complainant's testimony lacked sufficient grounds for a conviction and that 'the principle of presumed innocence should take precedence' in this instance.
This ruling nullifies the prior decision made by the Barcelona court, which had accepted the complainant's claim that Alves engaged in non-consensual sex with her in a private area of a nightclub on December 30, 2022. Alves, who spent over a year in detention before being released on a one-million-euro bail, is now free to leave Spain.
The Court of Appeal criticized the initial verdict, pointing out 'inconsistencies and contradictions' in the complainant’s account.
The judges noted that security footage from the nightclub indicated 'prior consent' for entering the bathroom together, casting doubt on subsequent events that lacked supporting evidence.
Conversely, the original court ruling contended that these inconsistencies did not detract from the testimony's credibility.
The Court of Appeal dismissed this reasoning, asserting that if the initial part of the testimony contradicts reality, it also calls into question the reliability of the remainder of the account.
