Cristiano Ronaldo ‘trying to block’ release of witness statements in Vegas ‘rape’ case

The Manchester United forward’s legal team are attempting to prevent the release of a file that contains details regarding his Las Vegas rape case from 2009

Cristiano Ronaldo, pictured with Kathryn Moyorga

Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly wants to block the release of witness statements in relation to his Las Vegas rape case due to fears it could put people involved at “significant risk of harassment”.

Ronaldo has strongly denied raping Kathryn Mayorga at the Palms Hotel and Casino on 12 June 2009.

The Portugal international originally settled with his accuser in a civil case where she accepted a payment of £276,000, but she is now seeking a further £56million in damages.

Ronaldo’s lawyers have filed two separate responses to halt the release of police files related to the 2009 case.

The files in question include a cache of recorded interviews, witness statements, emails, CCTV footage, and medical reports.

Cristiano Ronaldo, pictured with his accuser Kathryn Mayorga

Lawyers for the Manchester United star have claimed that the majority of the information stored in the files was originally obtained illegally by the Football Leaks website.

However, according to the Sun, Ronaldo’s legal team now insist that the release of the files would put witnesses in the case at risk.

They explain that for the sake of the safety of both Ronaldo and his accuser, Kathryn Mayorga as well as other witnesses and anyone who provided information the files should remain unreleased.

The submissions filed on February 8 from his legal team state: “The persons named in LVMPD’s file, as well as those who provided information contained therein, have a strong interest in ‘not being associated unwarrantedly with alleged criminal activity.

“Plaintiff, Defendant, and the witnesses who were interviewed as part of the reopened investigation all have non-trivial privacy interests.”

The now-closed Rain nightclub was located inside the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas

Documents from Ronaldo’s team also explain how he is a “famous athlete” who garners “substantial media attention”, which the lawyers say in turn creates a “significant risk of harassment” to witnesses should the files be made public.

Their submission added: “Disclosure of any portion of LVMPD’s file would certainly infringe upon those privacy interests and result in undeserved embarrassment and potentially serious reputational harm.”

The documents explain: “Disclosure of the witness statements even in redacted form coupled with the number of various news articles and media reports concerning this matter creates a significant risk that those witness’ identities will be revealed.

“A balancing of the privacy interests at issue against the public interest in disclosure strongly militates against disclosure.”

What are your thoughts on this?

We would want to hear from each and every one of you.

Please drop your comments here!