The Dani Alves case took a new turn as the ongoing judicial process approaches its trial date in February. The former Brazilian defender has changed his version of events multiple times, currently maintaining that there were sexual relations with the victim under mutual consent.
As the trial approaches, it is reported that the defense strategy will be to claim that Alves was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident and therefore cannot remember what happened. This would be the fifth change of his testimony since the case began.
Alves has been in provisional prison since January 2023 in Spain, with all his appeals for release being rejected. The trial is set to take place from February 5 to 7 in Barcelona.
The Prosecutor’s Office is planning to request a sentence of 12 years in prison, which is the maximum under Spanish law for this crime. The defense has unsuccessfully sought an agreement with the prosecution that could mitigate the sentence.
In an attempt to reduce the potential punishment, the player’s representatives are expected to invoke a figure in the Spanish legal system known as “the mitigating circumstance of reparation for the damage caused,” which could reduce the punishment by up to 25% through the payment of compensation.
In addition to the main process, the Barcelona Provincial Prosecutor’s Office has begun proceedings in relation to the dissemination of a video of the alleged victim that circulated on Instagram, published by Dani’s mother. This act violated judicial guidelines and could lead to charges against Alves’ mother.
The trial is not only focused on determining Alves’ guilt but also on protecting the identity of the victim during the proceedings to avoid a media circus. The upcoming trial at the Provincial Court of Barcelona is expected to attract significant international attention.