Ryan Giggs has been spotted with his new girlfriend for the first time since his domestic abuse trial collapsed earlier this week.
The Manchester United icon, 48, was in court after being accused of headbutting his former partner, Katie Greville, 38, and coercively controlling her over a three-year period during their relationship. But the jury in the case was discharged from Manchester Crown Court on Wednesday after they failed to come to a verdict after 22 hours and 59 minutes of deliberations.
Giggs has kept a low profile since the conclusion of the three-and-a-half-week trial, but he was spotted driving through Chesire with his new partner, Zara Charles, on Saturday.
Charles was snapped walking her dog in black joggers and white vest shortly before the model was later pictured driving through Hale with Giggs.
It is unknown exactly how long the couple have been dating, but it is believed they have been seeing each other since at least last year.
The pair were also spotted on holiday together in Portugal shortly before the start of Giggs' trial.
Giggs denied controlling or coercive behaviour over a three-year period towards Greville and also denied “losing control” and headbutting her and assaulting Greville’s sister, Emma, by elbowing her in the jaw, during a row at his home in Worsley, Greater Manchester on November 1 2020.
During weeks of evidence, jurors were told that there were “two very different” sides to Giggs, the public persona and the one behind closed doors.
Under cross-examination, Greville, describing the night of November 1, 2020, claimed that Giggs “looked me straight in the eyes and headbutted me in the face” as she tried to move out of his house after discovering his infidelity. The court heard that she was left with swelling and a cut lip.
But Giggs described the alleged incident as a "scuffle" and "tussle" that ended with "an accidental clash of heads" after the then couple had taken each other's mobile phones. Defence barrister Chris Daw QC had told the jury that if they thought the Premier League legend is “probably guilty” they must consider him not guilty.
Greville also accused Giggs of kicking her in the back and dragging her naked out of a hotel room during their relationship, and countless messages exchanged over Whatsapp and email were shared with the court. During 12 days of evidence, the jury heard a significant selection of almost 20,000 messages exchanged between Giggs and Ms Greville during their six-year on-off relationship.
Jurors first went out to consider verdicts late on the afternoon of August 23. However, the jury of 12 was later reduced to 11 after one juror became sick and was discharged.
Judge Hilary Manley, on Tuesday, gave the jury a majority direction, meaning they did not have to return unanimous verdicts agreed by all 11, but could return verdicts if a majority of 10-1 agreed.
But when jurors were brought back into court on Wednesday afternoon, the jury foreman informed the court that jurors could not reach any verdicts on any of the three counts Giggs denied.
Giggs was released on bail until a mention hearing on September 7, but he will find out in the next week whether or not he will face a retrial, which would not take place until June 2023.
