Dani Alves brings his WIFE to rape trial in bid convince judge he did not assault woman in nightclub - as court hears 'victim' had 'chemistry' with the player before agreeing to join him in bathroom
- Footballer charged with sexually assaulting woman in Barcelona nightclub
- His wife Joana San was one of a steam of witnesses who have testimony today
Dani Alves's wife appeared in court today and gave evidence on the second day of the ex-footballer's rape trial.
The Brazilian, 40, is charged with sexually assaulting a woman in the bathroom of an upscale Barcelona nightclub on December 31, 2022. He has denied any wrongdoing.
His alleged victim testified shortly after the start of the three-day trial on Monday in the only part of the public hearing scheduled to be held behind closed doors. She was also shielded by a screen separating her from Alves.
Today, the former right-back was escorted in handcuffs into the Barcelona courtroom and sat in silence as a stream of witnesses gave testimony, including his wife Joana San and the friend who accompanied him on the night of the alleged incident.
According to the friend, Alves and the alleged victim danced together and showed 'chemistry' before going into the bathroom - where he allegedly slapped her, used insulting language and raped her.
![Dani Alves appeared in court today charged with sexually assaulting a woman in the bathroom of an upscale Barcelona nightclub on December 31, 2022](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/06/18/80929797-13052513-image-a-30_1707245734861.jpg)
Dani Alves appeared in court today charged with sexually assaulting a woman in the bathroom of an upscale Barcelona nightclub on December 31, 2022
![Joana San, Alves' wife, walked into the Barcelona courtroom today to give evidence](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/06/18/80930007-13052513-image-a-31_1707245825824.jpg)
Joana San, Alves' wife, walked into the Barcelona courtroom today to give evidence
![Alves and San pose for pictures during The Best FIFA Football Awards in 2018](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/06/19/80930193-13052513-Alves_and_San_pose_for_pictures_during_The_Best_FIFA_Football_Aw-m-33_1707246400529.jpg)
Alves and San pose for pictures during The Best FIFA Football Awards in 2018
State prosecutors are seeking a nine-year prison sentence for Alves if convicted while the lawyers representing his accuser want 12 years.
In testimony previously given to state prosecutors last year, the woman said she met Alves in a VIP area of the Sutton nightclub after midnight where she had gone with a friend and a cousin.
The woman's friend and cousin testified on Monday that when they saw her after she exited the bathroom she was distraught and told them Alves 'hurt her badly' by forcing her to have intercourse without her consent.
State prosecutors asked for the court to take extra measures to protect her identity after a video circulated on social media last month that allegedly identified the woman.
The footballer has said the encounter was consented by her.
On Tuesday, police officers who attended the alleged victim testified she was greatly shaken and told them she had been sexually assaulted by Alves.
The officers said she had to overcome her fears that 'nobody would believe her' before she formally denounced Alves.
One officer said the woman told him: 'I don't want money, I want justice.'
The manager of the nightclub, who activated its sexual assault protocol by counselling the woman and calling police, said she told him she entered the bathroom with Alves 'voluntarily but later she wanted to leave and he would not let her.'
The friend accompanying Alves that night, who was also an employee of the Mexican soccer club Pumas where Alves was playing, said the ex-Barcelona player drunk wine and whiskey before going to the nightclub.
The friend said he hadn't noticed anything wrong with the woman after she had entered the bathroom with Alves.
Ms Sanz told the court that Alves was 'smelling of alcohol' when he arrived at their home outside Barcelona early in the morning.
Ms Sanz, Alves' wife since 2017, said that she has not legally requested a divorce, after having said that she wanted one after the scandal broke
Alves will testify on Wednesday and has been in pre-trial jail since being detained by police on January 20, 2023.
His requests for bail were denied because the court considered him a flight risk, despite his offer to hand over his passport and wear a tracking device.
![Ms Sanz leaving court after giving evidence in which she said Alves was 'smelling of alcohol' when he arrived at their home outside Barcelona early in the morning](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/06/19/80930617-13052513-image-a-38_1707246742458.jpg)
Ms Sanz leaving court after giving evidence in which she said Alves was 'smelling of alcohol' when he arrived at their home outside Barcelona early in the morning
![Media gather ahead of Dani Alves' trial for alleged sexual assault at Barcelona Court](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/06/19/80859039-13052513-Media_gather_ahead_of_Dani_Alves_trial_for_alleged_sexual_assaul-a-36_1707246695878.jpg)
Media gather ahead of Dani Alves' trial for alleged sexual assault at Barcelona Court
![Dani Alves is pictured with his wife, the model Joana Sanz, in a post shared on Instagram](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/06/19/73831909-13052513-Dani_Alves_is_pictured_with_his_wife_the_model_Joana_Sanz_in_a_p-a-34_1707246680631.jpg)
Dani Alves is pictured with his wife, the model Joana Sanz, in a post shared on Instagram
![Dani Alves speaks at a press conference during the Qatar World Cup on December 1, 2022](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/06/19/80859525-13052513-Dani_Alves_speaks_at_a_press_conference_during_the_Qatar_World_C-a-35_1707246683090.jpg)
Dani Alves speaks at a press conference during the Qatar World Cup on December 1, 2022
![The former Barcelona, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain defender has been held at Brians 2](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/06/19/72288317-13052513-The_former_Barcelona_Juventus_and_Paris_Saint_Germain_defender_h-a-37_1707246700365.jpg)
The former Barcelona, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain defender has been held at Brians 2
Brazil does not extradite its own citizens when they are sentenced in other countries.
Alves modified his defense several times during the investigative phase while in custody.
At first, he denied having ever seen the woman when he went dancing on the night in question.
Upon his arrest, he then denied any sexual contact with her, only to later admit to a sexual encounter that he said was consented to by the woman.
He said he had been trying to save his marriage by not admitting to the sexual encounter initially.
Alves has been ordered to set aside 150,000 euros ($162,000) to pay his alleged victim if he is found guilty and ordered to pay damages.
On arriving at the courtroom under police escort, Alaves shrugged his shoulders when asked by reporters if he thought he would be found innocent.
Alves won major titles with elite clubs including Barcelona, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain. He also helped Brazil win two Copa Americas and an Olympic gold medal at age 38. He played at his third World Cup, the only major title he's not won, in 2022.
Alves' contract with Pumas was terminated immediately after his arrest.