Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey is ready to disclaim two new allegations of rape, a courtroom has heard, because the midfielder was absent from the dock for the primary listening to.
The 32-year-old was charged final month with two counts of raping a girl on a date in December 2020.
At Westminster Magistrates’ Courtroom on Friday, Partey was not in courtroom as Deputy Chief Justice of the Peace Tan Ikram handled the preliminary phases of the case.
The footballer had been excused from the listening to, however his lawyer, Emma Fenn, indicated he intends to plead not responsible to each expenses.
Partey was charged final 12 months with 5 counts of rape towards two ladies and sexual assault towards a 3rd alleged sufferer, following a Metropolitan Police investigation.
He has already entered not responsible pleas to all of these allegations, which date again to 2021 and 2022, and is because of face trial at Southwark Crown Courtroom in November.
Thomas Partey is ready to disclaim two new allegations of rape, a courtroom has heard
Thomas Partey was not current at Westminster Magistrates Courtroom on Friday morning
The courtroom heard on Friday the 2 new allegations of rape got here to gentle after the primary set of expenses had been revealed.
Arabella MacDonald, prosecuting, informed the courtroom: ‘Mr Partey faces two additional expenses of rape relationship again to December 2020.
‘The complainant got here ahead after information of Mr Partey’s different issues had been broadly publicised.’
Choose Ikram despatched the 2 new expenses of rape – involving a fourth alleged sufferer – to the crown courtroom for a listening to on April 10.
Within the new expenses, the Ghanaian midfielder, who now performs for Spanish membership Villarreal, is accused of twice raping a girl in London on a day in December 2020.
Partey left Arsenal in June final 12 months after his contract got here to an finish
The footballer, who beforehand lived in Potters Bar in Hertfordshire, joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020 in a switch price round £45million, earlier than he left the membership in June final 12 months after his contract got here to an finish.
He has made greater than 50 appearances for Ghana, together with on the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations.
Partey was launched on bail on Friday, with a situation that he doesn’t contact the alleged sufferer.
He’s anticipated to attend the following courtroom listening to in April.
