Harry Maguire ‘will not travel to Greece for retrial’ over overturned conviction for assaulting a police officer in Mykanos in August 2020… as Man United defender ‘will give evidence via video link’
- Harry Maguire’s appeal hearing in Greece starts next month
- The Manchester United captain faces a retrial over the overturned conviction
- There appears to be no requirement for Maguire to attend the hearing in person
Harry Maguire will reportedly remain in the UK as his retrial following an overturned conviction for attacking a police officer in Greece prepares to begin.
The Manchester United captain and England defender was previously given a 21-month suspended sentence after being arrested while on holiday in Mykonos in 2020.
Maguire was involved in an altercation while on the Greek island with his family and at the time insisted he thought he had been ‘kidnapped’ during his arrest.
He spent two nights in a cell before being released. A subsequent court hearing followed where Maguire received his punishment. His appeal means he has no criminal record under Greek legal rules.
The 30-year-old is hoping to clear his name and is preparing to appear in court via a video link, according to the Mirror.
Harry Maguire will reportedly not go to Greece for his retrial next month
The trial will take place in June on the nearby picturesque island of Syros, but there is said to be no requirement for him to attend in person.
Maguire insisted he was protecting his sister Daisy after she was allegedly approached by two men and injected with an unknown substance and began to slip in and out of consciousness.
He insisted he was innocent of any crime and claimed police had beaten him upon arrest, with the Man United skipper even claiming he had been hit in the legs and told his playing career was over.
The England international was previously found guilty of assaulting a police officer in an incident that took place outside a bar.
Maguire recounted the ordeal to the BBC upon returning from Greece three years ago, saying: ‘It was so horrible I don’t want to do it again, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. This is the first time I have been inside a prison.
Maguire (centre) attempts to overturn his acquitted conviction for assaulting a police officer
‘I have great faith in Greek law that a retrial will give us more time to prepare, gather evidence and allow witnesses to court. I’m really confident that the truth will be told and will come out.’
Meanwhile, Maguire looks set for a summer exit from Old Trafford after struggling to secure a place in Erik ten Hag’s starting side.
He has been a consistent benchwarmer for large parts of the season, making just 15 Premier League appearances and starting just seven of those matches.
The world’s most expensive defender can end the season with two pieces of silverware as United prepare to take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final on Saturday, June 3 after winning the Carabao Cup.
News/Image Sources: Daily Mail
