Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been found guilty of aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and repeated attempts of bribery by a three-member misdemeanours court convening on the Greek island of Syros.
Maguire has been handed a suspended prison sentence of 21 months and 10 days. This will be suspended because it is a first offence and the charges were misdemeanours.
He is able to appeal the decision and Manchester United have said that he'll do so, according to Jamie Jackson, Manchester football correspondent for The Guardian.
"Manchester United notes the verdict of the Greek court today. Harry Maguire pleaded not guilty to all of the misdemeanour charges made against him and he continues to strongly assert his innocence. It should be noted that the prosecution confirmed the charges and provided their evidence late on the day before the trial, giving the defence team minimal time to digest them and prepare. A request for the case to be adjourned was subsequently denied. On this basis, along with the substantial body of evidence refuting the charges. Harry Maguire’s legal team will now appeal the verdict, to allow a full and fair hearing at a later date," he states.
The Manchester United defender spent two nights in custody last week after he was arrested during a holiday with family and friends on the Greek island of Mykonos.
The 27-year-old was detained following an alleged brawl, along with two other people.
The England defender was not in attendance at today's proceedings and had already pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated assault and attempted bribery of an official.
Before today's hearing started, Maguire's lawyer asked the court to postpone proceedings over the defender's alleged involvement in the brawl. Maguire's legal team claimed they did not have enough time to prepare.
During today's proceedings, Maguire's lawyer told the court that he was kicked in the leg by police officers who told him "your career is over".
Maguire's lawyer also told the court in Syros that two Albanian men had approached his sister Daisy - who fainted immediately after being injected with an unknown substance.
However, the prosecution alleged that once Maguire arrived at a police station, he said: "Do you know who I am? I am the captain of Manchester United, I am very rich, I can give you money, I can pay you, please let us go."
Earlier this afternoon, Sky reporter Martha Kelner gave this update before the court adjourned.
"Prosecution alleges that once at the police station Harry Maguire said: “Do you know who I am? I am the captain of Manchester United, I am very rich, I can give you money, I can pay you, please let us go” The prosecution team say plainclothes police officers intervened to try and calm the situation down but the “English men” did not calm down and one of the defendants said “fuck, fuck the police” and one of the defendants punched an officer.
"Maguire’s defence claim two Albanian men approached his sister Daisy, they injected her with something and she immediately fainted. They called their van and asked to be driven to the hospital, but the driver took them to the police department. Police officer (witness for the prosecution) says he received first aid while trying to make an arrest, because Harry Maguire got infuriated when he realised he was handcuffed and tried to break away from him.
"The defence says they were breaking away to make a phone call. Police officer counters that he didn’t see them make a phone call. Police officer (witness for the prosecution) that's being cross-examined by Maguire's lawyer said he didn’t see two Albanian men hitting the English group. He is asked by lawyer how, then, he would explain the serious injuries found on one of the defendants by the medical examination.
"A second police officer called by prosecution offers a similar story to the first. He claims that at the police station Harry Maguire said to him: “please, let me go, I am very rich, I can pay, I am the leader of Manchester United.”
Upon returning, Kelner gave some more updates which stated:
"Police officer (witness for the prosecution) being cross-examined by Maguire lawyer. He says he didn’t see two Albanian men hitting the English group. He is asked by lawyer how, then, he would explain the serious injuries found on one of the defendants by the medical examination.
"Another police officer now giving evidence. He says during handcuffing Harry Maguire pushed him hard and he fell back hurting his back. Also says he was injured on the leg. He says he was injected with painkillers and took the next day off to recover.
"A second police officer called by prosecution offers a similar story to the first. He claims that at the police station Harry Maguire said to him: “please, let me go, I am very rich, I can pay, I am the leader of Manchester United.”
"Maguire’s defence lawyer says the testimonies pertaining to the bribery charge are very vague. “they didn’t specify what he wanted to pay.” He continues “they would never say ‘fuck Greece,’ they love the country, and are keen on the ancient Greek culture.”
Earlier today, Maguire was named in Gareth Southgate's latest England squad for their Nations League matches.
When asked about the decision to call him up, Southgate said: "It’s clearly a decision that’s not straightforward. I’ve spoken to Harry and have the insight that’s very different to what’s been reported. If the facts or information changes, I’ll have to review that decision.
"I have no reason to doubt what he’s telling me, it’s important that he knows he has my support. Harry regrets the fact he’s brought that attention and focus on the team and he apologised for that, but he has his own side of the story that will come out in time."
