Giggs ‘abuse’ trial date set for January next year

June 1 – A trial date of January 24 next year has been set for former Wales manager Ryan Giggs who is accused of deliberately headbutting his ex-girlfriend and of controlling behaviour.

It is alleged Giggs, 47, assaulted the 36-year-old and caused her actual bodily harm at his home on November 1 last year.

Giggs is also said to have engaged in controlling and coercive behaviour towards her between December 2017 and November 2020, namely that he used violence, isolation, belittling, humiliation, harassment, degradation and abuse.

Giggs has pleaded not guilty and has denied all allegations, previously issuing a statement in which he said he would “look forward to clearing my name”.

A plea and trial preparation hearing will be held on July 23, which Giggs must attend. He will remain on conditional bail until then.

Giggs was charged in April when a magistrates court heard a prosecutor read out a summary of charges. He has been replaced as Wales manager for this summer’s Euro 2020 tournament by caretaker boss Robert Page.

Giggs made 963 appearances over 23 years for Manchester United as a player, a club record, winning a haul of honours including 13 Premier League winner’s medals and two UEFA Champions League winner’s medals.

He represented Wales as a player 64 times between 1991 and 2007 and took over as national coach in 2018.

The judge said the selected trial jurors would have to recognise the case had “nothing to do with football or an allegiance to any team.”

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