Harry Maguire found guilty on three charges after Mykonos incident – sentence CONFIRMED

Harry Maguire has been found guilty of aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and repeated attempts of bribery after an incident on the Greek island of Mykonos.

The Manchester United captain, 27, has been handed a 21 month and 10 day jail sentence, which has been suspended because it was his first offence and the charges are considered to be misdemeanours rather than felonies. He has already instructed his legal team to appeal the verdict. 

Maguire was arrested alongside brother Joe, 28, and friend Christopher Sharman, 29, after an alleged scrap with police last Thursday.

The elder Maguire had been accused of assault and attempted bribery, while Sharman found himself accused of assault and verbal abuse.

The co-defendants were found guilty on all charges.

The trial went ahead on Tuesday despite a request from Maguire’s lawyer, Alexis Anagnostakis, for an adjournment.

Maguire’s defence team told the court that the altercation was sparked by his sister Daisy being injected with a substance by a group of Albanians.

The defendants claimed that they asked for transport to take them to hospital, but found themselves taken to the police station.

The prosecution, however, alleged that Maguire, his brother and Sharman physically and verbally attacked police officers.

The football star allegedly then said to cops: “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.”

Old Trafford officials are backing Maguire, who was signed from Leicester City for £80m last summer.

A statement from the club read: “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 asset 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 the 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.”

Maguire’s guilty verdict will pose a problem for Gareth Southgate, who has named the United skipper in his England squad for the upcoming international matches.

Southgate is reportedly talking to FA chiefs and plans further discussions with Maguire before considering whether to drop him.

The lawyer who assisted the prosecution has demanded an apology from Maguire and his two co-defendants.

He told Sky News: “When you’re a sportsman and a role model you have to accept what you’ve done and say sorry.

“Until today, we haven’t had that – they have said it’s all the fault of the policeman.

“This was not accepted by the court. The victims and the policeman were assaulted. The only thing they want is an apology.”

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source: express.co.uk