The three-day trial in Barcelona ends with testimonies from both sides in the case against footballer Dani Alves for alleged sexual assault. (Getty Images)
The three-day trial centered on allegations of sexual assault against former Brazil international Dani Alves concluded in Barcelona on Wednesday, following testimonies from both the accused and the accuser. The trial commenced on Monday with Alves' legal team attempting to halt proceedings, a request that was denied by a three-judge panel.
The accuser provided her testimony later that day in a closed-door session with her voice distorted to safeguard her identity. She recounted an incident alleging that she met Alves at an upscale nightclub, voluntarily entered a bathroom with him, but was then allegedly prevented from leaving, subjected to physical and verbal abuse, and coerced into sexual activity on the morning of December 31, 2022.
Alves was apprehended on January 20, 2023, in connection with the case and has remained in custody since, with bail requests rejected due to concerns about flight risk. Initially refuting any sexual contact with the accuser, Alves later admitted to a consensual encounter, attributing his initial denial to marital concerns.
A friend and cousin of the accuser, present during the incident, testified on Monday, describing the accuser's distress upon leaving the bathroom. Police officers who responded to the accuser's distress call the following day reported her as profoundly shaken and expressing fears of not being believed. Testimony on Wednesday from a former psychologist characterized the accuser as exhibiting symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress, a claim challenged by a defense witness.
A friend of Alves who accompanied him to the nightclub testified that both he and Alves consumed alcohol that night, a detail corroborated by Alves' wife. The friend stated that he observed no concerning behavior from the accuser after she exited the bathroom, emphasizing a perceived "chemistry" between Alves and the accuser during their interaction.
Alves himself took the stand on Wednesday to reiterate his denial of the allegations, asserting, "I am not a violent man."
The verdict's deliberation may extend over several weeks, a customary timeline for such cases. Prosecutors are seeking a nine-year prison term if Alves is convicted, while the accuser's legal team is advocating for a 12-year sentence. Alves' defense counsel is pursuing an acquittal or, failing that, a one-year sentence accompanied by $54,000 in compensation for the accuser.
