The presiding judge will soon determine if they should approve the plea from Dani Alves’s legal team and permit his release on bond.
Opposition to Dani Alves’ Release
The Barcelona Prosecutor’s Office has voiced its objections to the temporary release of Dani Alves, the former Barcelona football player. Authorities are concerned that the Brazilian athlete might flee to avoid legal repercussions. As reported by sources within the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the case’s prosecutor submitted a report to Barcelona’s 15th examining magistrate’s court. The document states that the situation remains unchanged since Alves was imprisoned on January 20th on accusations of raping a young woman at the Sutton nightclub. It suggests that fleeing to evade justice could be a potential outcome.
Investigating Magistrate’s Decision
The investigating magistrate is now tasked with determining if Alves’ defense’s request for bail should be granted, along with any appropriate precautionary measures. The decision can be challenged at the Barcelona Court of Appeals.
Defense’s Argument for Release
Alves’ defense team, represented by lawyers Cristobal Martell and Arnau Xumetra, requested bail for their client last week. They cited several security camera images from the nightclub that could potentially exonerate him. The lawyers contend that these images show both the accused and the alleged victim engaging in flirtatious behavior prior to the alleged incident. They maintain that the pair were dancing and consuming alcohol together, and the alleged victim voluntarily followed Alves into the restroom.
Expert Report and Contradictory Testimonies
The defense referenced a 200-page expert report, which analyzes the images frame by frame, arguing that it contradicts the “microcosm of panic and terror” described by the victim. The report suggests that the twenty minutes the two individuals spent together before entering the bathroom were characteristic of sexual courtship. The defense also claims that the security camera footage contradicts the testimonies of the two friends who were with the complainant. These friends had told the judge that Alves approached them with blatant sexual intent, making them feel uneasy.
Dani Alves’ Testimony and Claims
Dani Alves submitted his request for release after testifying for a second time before the investigating magistrate, this time voluntarily, on April 17th. The Brazilian international asserted that the sexual encounter with the complainant was consensual and admitted to lying in his initial statement to conceal his infidelity to his spouse.