Accuser’s attorneys stymied cops in Ronaldo case
District attorneys in Las Vegas declined to prosecute a sexual assault declare towards Cristiano Ronaldo. Nicola Campo/LightRocket by way of Getty Photographs
Police matched a DNA pattern from Cristiano Ronaldo to proof from an alleged 2009 rape at a Las Vegas lodge, however detectives struggled with uncooperative attorneys for his accuser earlier than prosecutors declined to pursue a felony cost, in response to correspondence obtained by Outdoors the Traces.
In emails between Clark County (Nevada) prosecutors and Las Vegas police, detectives expressed frustrations about attorneys for Ronaldo’s accuser, Kathryn Mayorga.
“Speaking with the sufferer is now inconceivable and her lawyer Les Stovall is extraordinarily difficult,” detective Jeffrey Guyer mentioned in a March 28 e mail to prosecutor Jacob Villani.
The district lawyer’s workplace mentioned July 22 that it was declining to prosecute Mayorga’s sexual assault declare as a result of the allegation “can’t be confirmed past an inexpensive doubt.”
Mayorga’s attorneys didn’t reply to requests for remark Thursday, and the DA’s workplace instructed Outdoors the Traces, “We have now no extra feedback past what was in our assertion initially launched on July 22.”
In accordance with court docket paperwork, Mayorga signed a 2010 confidentiality settlement with Ronaldo in alternate for a $375,000 hush-money fee. Ronaldo’s attorneys have mentioned Ronaldo and Mayorga had consensual intercourse in his suite at a Las Vegas on line casino lodge however deny it was rape.
Prosecutors say the preliminary police investigation in 2009 was closed after police have been stymied by misplaced proof and lack of cooperation from the accuser.
Mayorga, 35, requested police to reopen the case in August 2018. After months of investigation, detectives appeared lower than assured of constructing a case, in response to correspondence obtained by Outdoors the Traces.
“Except for the apparent points relating to a 10 12 months chilly case, involving a particularly high-profile suspect, a earlier secret civil settlement, and a sufferer who instantly discloses materials to worldwide journalists,” Guyer famous different “sticking factors,” together with problem speaking with Mayorga’s attorneys and acquiring paperwork associated to her settlement or her more moderen civil lawsuit.
“I’ve repeatedly requested the sufferer for the above listed documentation, nonetheless she doesn’t have and can’t present it,” Guyer wrote to Villani on March 20.
At one level within the correspondence, Villani instructed getting a grand jury subpoena if one former Mayorga lawyer did not reply to requests for details about her settlement.
Police additionally have been unable to authenticate leaked paperwork in regards to the case which were printed within the European press. The paperwork, stolen by a Portuguese hacker and printed by the group often called Soccer Leaks earlier than particulars turned up within the German journal Der Spiegel, purportedly included Ronaldo’s admission that he had intercourse with Mayorga towards her will. Ronaldo’s agent denied the report.
Guyer wrote that it was “inconceivable to find out which paperwork have been altered or which of them are respectable.”
“For my part, even when [the hacker] discloses he obtained the paperwork and bought them unedited, it is inconceivable to authenticate their validity with out Ronaldo’s lawyer or a witness current when Ronaldo purportedly answered these questions,” the detective wrote.
Police additionally struggled to get cooperation from British police associated to a 2005 rape allegation towards Ronaldo, in response to the correspondence.
In accordance with a March 20 e mail from Guyer, Interpol confirmed to Las Vegas police that Ronaldo was accused Oct. 1, 2005, of raping a girl, and was arrested 18 days later.
Guyer knowledgeable prosecutors Could 29 that Scotland Yard, Interpol and police in Manchester, England, “refuse to offer the police report or sufferer’s data.”
“The main points they launched are the sufferer reported the incident in London however the sexual assault occurred in Manchester,” he wrote. “Ronaldo was arrested 10/19/2005 and posted bail. The case didn’t proceed via court docket and was dismissed three weeks later.”
Guyer added that neither Scotland Yard nor Interpol had “positioned any reported sexual assaults all through Europe.”
Las Vegas police have been profitable, via a U.S. Justice Division attaché in Rome, in getting Ronaldo to submit a DNA swab that matched proof within the case.
“Yeah DNA is again and is a match,” Guyer wrote March eight.
In accordance with a June four e mail, Mayorga met with Las Vegas police. Guyer summarized the assembly and mentioned that Mayorga said that she had recognized Ronaldo to police in 2009 as the person who assaulted her, however she additionally mentioned that on the time she “was insistent she didn’t need to transfer ahead with prosecution.”
Police and prosecutors have each disputed she disclosed Ronaldo’s identify in 2009.
By early July, Guyer was able to ship prosecutors a request for prosecution.
“Thanks on your laborious work on this investigation,” Chief Deputy District Legal professional James Sweetin wrote to the detective July three. “Based mostly on my conversations with you, in addition to my evaluation of the paperwork and knowledge obtained in your investigation, I am unable to consider a rock you left unturned.”
Lower than three weeks later, prosecutors introduced the choice to not pursue the case. They haven’t responded to questions in regards to the case or their choice.
Mayorga’s civil case towards Ronaldo alleges conspiracy, defamation, breach of contract, coercion and fraud. Her grievance seeks unspecified financial damages better than $50,000. This month, Ronaldo’s attorneys requested a choose to declare that the 2010 settlement continues to be in impact and transfer the case to out-of-court mediation.
Outdoors the Traces producer Nicole Noren and The Related Press contributed to this report.