Dani Alves brings his WIFE to rape trial in bid convince judge he did not assault woman in nightclub – as court hears ‘victim’ had ‘chemistry’ with the player before agreeing to join him in bathroom

Dani Alves’ wife appeared in court today and gave evidence on the second day of the rape trial against the ex-footballer.

The Brazilian, 40, is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in the bathroom of a chic nightclub in Barcelona on December 31, 2022. He has denied any wrongdoing.

His alleged victim testified Monday shortly after the start of the three-day trial in the only part of the public hearing that would take place behind closed doors. She was also protected by a screen that separated her from Alves.

Today the former right back was escorted in handcuffs to the Barcelona courtroom and sat in silence as a stream of witnesses gave evidence, including his wife Joana San and the friend who accompanied him on the night of the alleged incident.

According to the friend, Alves and the alleged victim danced together and showed “chemistry” before going to the bathroom – where he allegedly hit her, used offensive language and raped her.

Joana San, Alves’ wife, walked into the Barcelona courtroom today to testify

Alves and San pose for photos at The Best FIFA Football Awards in 2018

Prosecutors are seeking a nine-year prison sentence for Alves if convicted, while attorneys representing his accuser are seeking 12 years.

In testimony previously given to prosecutors last year, the woman said she met Alves after midnight in a VIP area at the Sutton nightclub, where she had gone with a friend and a cousin.

The woman’s friend and cousin testified Monday that when they saw her after she left the bathroom, she was distraught and told them Alves had “hurt her severely” by forcing her to have intercourse without her consent.

Prosecutors asked the court to take additional steps to protect her identity after a video purporting to identify the woman circulated on social media last month.

The footballer has said that she had given permission for the meeting.

On Tuesday, police officers who visited the alleged victim testified that she was very shaken and said she had been sexually abused by Alves.

Officers said she had to overcome her fear that “no one would believe her” before formally denouncing Alves.

One officer said the woman told him, “I don’t want money, I want justice.”

The nightclub manager, who activated the sexual assault protocol by counseling the woman and calling police, said she told him she had “voluntarily” gone to the bathroom with Alves, but later she wanted to leave and he let doesn’t let her.

The friend who accompanied Alves that evening, who was also an employee of the Mexican football club Pumas where Alves played, said the ex-Barcelona player drank wine and whiskey before going to the nightclub.

The friend said he didn’t notice anything wrong with the woman after she entered the bathroom with Alves.

Ms Sanz told the court that Alves ‘smelled of alcohol’ when he arrived at their home outside Barcelona in the early morning.

Ms Sanz, Alves’ wife since 2017, said she did not legally file for divorce, having said she wanted one after the scandal broke

Alves will testify on Wednesday and has been in pre-trial detention since his arrest by the police on January 20, 2023.

His bail applications were rejected because the court deemed him a flight risk, despite his offer to surrender his passport and wear a tracking device.

Ms Sanz leaves court after giving evidence in which she said Alves ‘smelled of alcohol’ when he arrived at their home outside Barcelona in the early morning

The media gather at the Barcelona court ahead of Dani Alves’ trial for alleged sexual abuse

Dani Alves is pictured with his wife, model Joana Sanz, in a post shared on Instagram

Dani Alves speaks at a press conference during the World Cup in Qatar on December 1, 2022

The former Barcelona, ​​Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain defender was retained at Brians 2

Brazil does not extradite its own citizens if they have been convicted in other countries.

Alves changed his defense several times during the investigation phase while in custody.

He initially denied ever seeing the woman when he went dancing on the night in question.

Upon his arrest, he subsequently denied any sexual contact with her, only to later admit to a sexual encounter that he said the woman had consented to.

He said he tried to save his marriage by initially not giving in to the sexual encounter.

Alves has been ordered to set aside 150,000 euros ($162,000) to pay his alleged victim if he is found guilty and ordered to pay damages.

Arriving in court under a police escort, Alaves shrugged when reporters asked him if he thought he would be found innocent.

Alves won major titles with elite clubs such as Barcelona, ​​​​Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain. He also helped Brazil win two Copa Americas and an Olympic gold medal at the age of 38. He played in his third World Cup, the only major title he has not won, in 2022.

Alves’ contract with Pumas was terminated immediately after his arrest.