By Melody Gross 
A Barcelona court sentenced Brazilian footballer Dani Alves to four and a half years in prison on charges of raping a 23-year-old girl in the bathroom of the Sutton nightclub in the Catalan city on the night of December 30 to 31. 2022.
The judges in charge of the case considered the victim's testimony regarding the facts in question credible and ruled that the former Barcelona player had acted without his consent. The Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia quoted the court as saying: “It has been proven that the victim did not consent and there is evidence,” explaining that the defendant “suddenly grabbed the complainant and threw her to the ground and prevented her from doing so.” From the movement, he entered her vaginally, even though the young woman told him she did not want to.”
The victim had no vaginal or other injuries (except for a bruise on her knees), but the ruling notes that “for there to be sexual assault, it is not necessary for physical injuries to occur, nor for there to be evidence of heroic opposition.” By the victim to have sexual relations.”
The Public Prosecution initially requested a sentence of nine years in prison, and the private prosecution lawyers increased it to 12 years, but the court took into account a mitigating circumstance, namely the payment of 150,000 euros in compensation requested by the Public Prosecution to repair the moral damage caused to the victim. Victim – leading to a reduced sentence. In addition to the four and a half years in prison, of which he has already served one year and one month in protective custody, the defendant will then be prohibited from coming within one kilometer of the victim's home or workplace.
Today's ruling came two weeks after the last session of the trial.