Dani Alves sentenced to four and a half years in prison after being found guilty of sexual assault
For raping a woman at a nightclub in Spain, football player Dani Alves was given a four-and-a-half year prison sentence. The father of two children and former Barcelona player attended his trial earlier this month and received his verdict today. He has been detained since his arrest in January of last year, and his attorney intends to file an appeal. The trial ended on February 7th, and Alves had continued to maintain his innocence.
He said that on December 31, 2022, in the restroom of a classy nightclub in Barcelona, he had consensual sex with his 23-year-old accuser. But the lady he was found guilty of raping said he hit her during her deposition in court and then pushed himself on her.
If found guilty, prosecutors wanted a nine-year prison sentence; the victim’s attorney asked for twelve. In a 61-page written decision, the justices identified his prepayment of £128,000 (€150,000) to the victim as a “mitigating factor.” They discovered that the woman had danced with Alves before choosing to use the restroom close to the club’s VIP section on her own volition, indicating that she had seemingly agreed to be in a more private environment with him.
The judges detailed the evidence that led to Alves’s conviction, stating that he attempted to force himself on his victim using his physical strength and preventing her from leaving. Despite her clear desire to leave, he did not allow her to do so, causing her shock and fear.
The judges described how Alves raped his victim in the toilet, using force to overcome her resistance and ejaculating inside her without consent. They emphasized that any previous intimacy did not imply consent to sex and condemned Alves’s actions. David Saez, part of the victim’s defense team, expressed satisfaction with the verdict, affirming the truth of the victim’s testimony and her suffering.
Dani Alves’ lawyer, Ines Guardiola, stated outside court that they would appeal the verdict after the footballer was sentenced to jail. She affirmed her belief in Alves’s innocence and mentioned that while a four-and-a-half-year sentence is better than nine or twelve years, they still plan to appeal. In addition to the prison term and damages payment, Alves received five years of parole and a nine-and-a-half-year restraining order preventing contact with his victim.
Alves, who made history as the oldest player to represent Brazil at the World Cup in December 2022, was ordered to stand trial last November. Initially accused of sexual assault, it was later revealed that the victim was alleging rape. Alves was dismissed by UNAM Pumas in Mexico following his arrest in Barcelona at the beginning of last year. Despite repeated bail requests, all were denied, with judges citing the coherence of the victim’s account and Alves’s changing story as evidence against him.
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Before his arrest, Alves initially claimed he didn’t know his female accuser but later changed his statement. In a June interview from prison, he said he only needed forgiveness from his wife. Police were called to Sutton nightclub after Alves left with a friend, prompted by the victim and her companions. A friend of the victim testified that she was deeply upset and claimed Alves had hurt her.
Alves denied the allegations at his trial, stating he was not a violent person. His ex-wife testified that he returned home very drunk that night. Alcohol consumption was not considered a mitigating factor. In a letter posted briefly by his ex-wife before being removed, Alves expressed hope for reconciliation. Apart from Barcelona, Alves has played for Seville, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, and Sao Paulo, earning a reputation as one of the greatest full-backs in history.
Before his conviction, his mother caused controversy by naming and picturing his victim on social media, an action later removed. She attended his trial with his brothers. Spain’s second deputy PM expressed hope that the sentence would serve as a deterrent against sexist behavior.
Dani Alves sentenced to four and a half years in prison after being found guilty of sexual assault
