Ryan Giggs’ domestic violence trial dramatically collapsed today after a jury failed to reach verdicts on any of the three counts against him- meaning the footballer is now facing a possible second trial.
The former Manchester United footballer, 48, had been on trial for four weeks accused of ‘coercively controlling’ Kate Greville, 38, over a period of three years before headbutting her during a drunken row at his £1.7million home.
Following 20 hours of deliberations, the jury of seven women and four men – having lost one juror to illness – failed to reach any verdicts.
Lawyers will now have to consider the public interest of a retrial but any further trial would only take place many months from now.
Giggs was accused of bombarding her with abusive and sometimes foul-mouthed messages; threatening to send emails to her employers about their sex life; throwing her out of their home and hotel rooms when she questioned him about relationships with other women and ‘stalking’ her when they split by turning up at her work, home and gym to win back her affections.
When the PR executive finally confronted him about his infidelity and accused him of sleeping with eight other women behind her back, on November 1, 2020, Giggs allegedly headbutted her during an argument at his mansion in Worsley, Greater Manchester.
He was also accused of assaulting her sister, Emma, 26, who was at the property looking after the couple’s new cocker spaniel puppy, Mac.
Giggs leaving Manchester Crown Court today, where jurors were discharged after failing to reach verdicts on any of the three counts he faced
Former Manchester United Player Welsh coach Giggs and his then girlfriend Kate Greville pictured together in Italy in 2018
Giggs also denied ‘losing control’ and headbutting Ms Greville during a row at his home in Worsley, Greater Manchester on November 1, 2020.
The former Wales manager, who gave up his ‘dream’ managerial job shortly before the trial began earlier this month, broke down and sobbed in court as he recounted how spending the night in the cells at a police station following his arrest was the ‘worst experience of my life.’
In a case that gripped the nation’s attention over four weeks, the court heard intimate details of Giggs and Ms Greville’s tempestuous relationship.
Toe-curling messages between the pair were read out, including Giggs telling his partner at the time: ‘You are the jam in my doughnut, the truffle in my pasta, the salt in my tequila’.
He also told her in a poem: ‘I’m gonna end by saying you are my love, my friend, my soul… And most of all you believe in me… Which makes me feel as hard as a totem pole.’
Ms Greville claimed that lockdown was a period of ‘living hell’ after moving in with Giggs when the pandemic was declared in March 2020.
At one point, he called a ‘team meeting’ with his ex and family over how to load a dishwasher after getting ‘wound up’ by how spoons were placed, the court heard.
Ms Greville sobbed as she told police that Giggs had been having affairs with a dozen women.
The trial heard how the PR executive penned a ‘final goodbye’ letter to the former footballer, accusing him of being a ‘liar and a cheat’ and listed the woman she believed he was sleeping with.
Among the women mentioned in the letter was an employee of Giggs’ Hotel Football – which he co-owns with ex-teammates Gary Neville and Paul Scholes – whom she claimed he was messaging about having a ‘threesome’ with.
Ms Greville also accused him of having sex with someone who is ‘married to that cricketer now’ and charming another woman by getting his ‘guy at Harrods to send shoes, bags and dresses’.
The former Manchester United footballer (seen middle, today) had been on trial for four weeks but following more than 20 hours of deliberations, the jury of seven women and four men, having lost one juror to illness, failed to reach any verdicts
Giggs, 48, had denied controlling or coercive behaviour over a three-year period towards Ms Greville (pictured together on their Italy trip)
The court heard Ms Greville never sent Giggs the letter, which was penned on October 29, 2020 – three days before he allegedly assaulted her. Instead she sent it to a friend, who responded: ‘Better than watching Jeremy Kyle that’.
In the letter, read out in court she wrote: ‘My gut has always told me that you couldn’t be trusted and that you’re a compulsive liar and serial cheat. I really did love you.
‘I wanted to believe the things you told me but I know now that the same things you say to me, you say to multiple women.
‘At least these other women have husbands, kids, boyfriends or go on to have them. I’m not so special. I stayed loyal and committed to you no matter what and what have I got for it? Nothing at all.
‘I think you underestimated my ability to find things out. For five years I haven’t really wanted to know the truth. Since Xmas there were so many things that didn’t add up. It was a case of me putting my head in the sand. You’re probably surprised that I didn’t find out sooner.’
In court, the ex-winger accepted he had sent ‘constant unwanted messages’ and made ‘constant unwanted calls’ to Ms Greville and her friends when she tried to break off the relationship.
He also acknowledged he had turned up ‘unannounced at her home, workplace, and gym’.
Asked about an email he sent to Ms Greville which had the title ‘C***!!!’, Giggs said: ‘I was emotional and there was no excuse for my language.’
Mr Wright asked the former sportsman if he was a ‘liar’ and a ‘cheat’.
‘Yes,’ Giggs replied.
A poem in which Giggs told Ms Greville: ‘You are my soul… you makes me as hard as a totem pole,’ was read out before the court
Giggs also wrote an acrostic poem using the first letters of Ms Greville’s surname, including ‘Gorgeous’ for ‘G’, ‘Vivacious’ for ‘V’ and ‘Everything I’ve Ever Wanted’ for ‘E’
The prosecutor asked Giggs if he is a ‘narcissist’, ‘manipulator’, ‘controlling’, ‘aggressive’, and ‘violent’.
‘No,’ Giggs replied to each one.
Chris Daw QC, Giggs’s barrister, suggested his client was known around the world for two things: football and infidelity.
Mr Daw asked Ryan Giggs: ‘In the course of your relationships with women, up to and including Ms Greville, have you managed to be faithful to any of them?’
Giggs replied: ‘No.’
The barrister continued: ‘If an attractive woman has shown you interest regardless of your marital status, are you able to resist?’
Giggs answered: ‘No.’
The footballer won 64 caps for Wales and had a wildly successful career with Manchester United, winning 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, four FA Cups and three League Cups.
He is also a co-owner of League Two side Salford City.
Giggs made no reaction during today’s short hearing.
Judge Manley thanked jurors and discharged them from their duties.
Giggs was released on bail until a mention hearing on September 7.
Giggs messaged his ex: ‘You are the jam in my doughnut, the truffle in my pasta and the salt in my tequila,’ his domestic assault trial today heard
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