Man United: Harry Maguire ‘will not travel to Greece for retrial’ over quashed conviction
Harry Maguire ‘will not travel to Greece for retrial’ over overturned conviction for assaulting a police officer in Mykanos in August 2020… with Manchester United defender ‘testifying via video link’
- Harry Maguire’s appeal hearing in Greece begins next month
- The Manchester United captain faces a new trial over a quashed conviction
- There is apparently no requirement for Maguire to attend the hearing in person
Harry Maguire will reportedly remain in the UK as his retrial following a quashed conviction for assaulting a police officer in Greece prepares to start.
The Manchester United captain and England defender was previously given a 21-month suspended sentence after being arrested while on holiday in Mykonos in 2020.
Maguire was involved in a brawl while on the Greek island with his family and claimed at the time that he believed he was being ‘kidnapped’ while under arrest.
He spent two nights in a cell before being released. A subsequent court hearing followed where Maguire received his sentence. His profession means that according to the legal rules in Greece he has no criminal record.
The 30-year-old hopes to clear his name and is preparing to appear in court via video link, according to the Mirror.
Manchester United’s Harry Maguire will reportedly not be traveling to Greece next month for his retrial
The trial will take place in June on the picturesque neighboring island of Syros.
However, he is reportedly not required to attend in person.
Maguire claimed he was protecting his sister Daisy after she was supposedly approached by two men and injected with an unknown substance and started going in and out of consciousness.
He insists he is innocent of committing any crime and claims that the police beat him upon his arrest.
The Man United skipper further stated that he had been hit in the leg and said his playing career was over.
The England international was previously found guilty of assaulting a police officer in an incident that took place outside a bar.
Maguire told the BBC about the ordeal when he returned from Greece three years ago, saying: ‘It was awful – it’s nothing I ever want to do again.
‘I don’t wish it on anyone. It’s the first time I’ve ever been in a prison.
Maguire (center) tries to have his overturned conviction for assaulting a police officer overturned
“I am very confident in Greek law that the new trial will give us more time to prepare, collect evidence and admit witnesses to the court. I am confident that the truth will be told and come out.”
Meanwhile, Maguire looks poised for a summer exit from Old Trafford after struggling to secure a place in Erik ten Hag’s starting squad.
He has been a consistent bench-warmer for much of the season, making just 15 Premier League appearances and starting just seven of those games.
The most expensive defender in the world could end the season with two silver pieces.
Ten Hag’s United are preparing for Manchester City in the FA Cup final on Saturday 3 June, having previously won the Carabao Cup.
