Rapist footballer joined by fiancee in bid to clear name
DISGRACED footballer Ched Evans arrived at court holding hands with his fiancee Natasha Massey yesterday as he began a battle to overturn his conviction for rape.
Ched Evans with his fiance were at High Court in London today appealing his rape conviction
Evans, 27, hopes new evidence will help quash his conviction of attacking a teenage girl in a hotel and allow him to play again.
The former Sheffield United and Welsh international striker sat with Natasha, also 27, as they listened intently to proceedings at the packed Appeal Court in central London.
Natasha has stood by Evans since he was found guilty in April 2012 of raping the 19-year-old in Rhyl, north Wales. He was jailed for five years at Caernarfon Crown Court.
The couple, whose first child was born in January, became engaged two weeks after Evans was freed in 2014 after serving half his sentence.
His case has been referred to the Appeal Court by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which investigates possible miscarriages of justice.
The Commission revealed in October that new evidence not available to the jury had emerged following a 10-month investigation.
Fiance Natasha has stood by Ched since he was convicted for rape in April 2012
Evans’s counsel Kieran Vaughan QC outlined the fresh testimony yesterday but details cannot be revealed because of reporting restrictions.
Appeal judges Lady Justice Hallett, Mr Justice Flaux and Sir David Maddison will consider whether the conviction is safe.
If his appeal succeeds, Evans could return to international football at this summer’s Euro 2016 championship in France. But if the conviction is upheld, it is unlikely he will play again.
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Evans admitted at his trial that he had sex with the victim in May 2011 but insisted that it was consensual.
The jury heard that Port Vale defender Clayton McDonald, a friend of Evans, met the girl in the street and took her to a pre-booked hotel room, where they had sex.
Evans walked in on them and also had sex with her. Both men were charged with rape but McDonald was cleared.
The former Sheffield United player and Wales international is trying to clear his name
The girl told the jury she had been drinking and could remember nothing about what happened.
Evans, who won 13 caps for Wales, has not played a professional match since he was released from prison.
He started training again with his old club but prominent Sheffield United supporters including Olympic gold medal athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill objected to his return.
Evans could return to international football at this summer’s Euro 2016 championship in France
Oldham Athletic also scrapped an offer to sign him after thousands signed a petition.
A previous appeal by Evans was thrown out in November 2012 when three judges rejected his claim that the rape conviction was inconsistent because his co-defendant McDonald had been cleared.
The new appeal continues today, when two witnesses are expected to give evidence.