Now Ronaldo’s British ex may give evidence in rape lawsuit
BRITISH actress Gemma Atkinson could be among the ex- girlfriends asked to give evidence in the Cristiano Ronaldo rape case.
The Hollyoaks star could be asked for a deposition by lawyers for Kathryn Mayorga, who claims the former Real Madrid footballer raped her in Las Vegas in 2009.
Miss Atkinson, 33, dated Ronaldo in 2007 when he was playing for Manchester United. Among other women who could be questioned is Russian supermodel Irina Shayk, 32, who dated the Portuguese player for five years until 2015. Police in Las Vegas have reopened their investigation into the alleged rape after Miss Mayorga, 34, gave them a dossier of evidence and two new witness statements.
She said she had remained quiet until now because she accepted £270,000 in a deal with Ronaldo’s lawyers. But emboldened by the #MeToo movement, Miss Mayorga has filed a civil lawsuit, alleging the ‘ hush money’ is invalid because of a ‘conspiracy’ to silence her.
Leslie Stovall, lead attorney for Miss Mayorga, said he would like to interview 33year- old Ronaldo’s ex-girlfriends. This would involve them being questioned on video in front of lawyers representing Ronaldo and his accuser, as if it were a court of law. Mr Stovall said: ‘Past girlfriends will have a great insight into his conduct.
‘Civil depositions are part of the discovery process in Nevada and a very important step in the litigation process. It will help build a picture of Mr Ronaldo’s behaviour which could prove vital to our case. ‘I want to speak to any girlfriend who knew or knows him intimately. I will travel to the UK if I need to. Kathryn
is determined no one else should suffer like she has. We will leave no stone unturned in pursuit of that.’
Over the weekend, German magazine Der Spiegel reported that during one of Miss Mayorga’s two new interviews with police she discovered that a recording of a statement she gave them in 2009 no longer exists.
The dress and underwear that she wore on the night of the alleged rape are also missing, have Italy Ronaldo, DNA for been Juventus, meaning lost. who evidence now has that plays could called crucial in the and suggested allegations Miss ‘fake Mayorga news’, was trying to make herself famous. On Twitter, he said: ‘I firmly deny the accusations being issued against me. Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in.’ American actress Rose McGowan, who sparked a flood of sex abuse and rape allegations against movie producer Harvey Weinstein, has denounced the #MeToo movement, calling it ‘ all bulls**t’. Miss McGowan, 45, who accused Weinstein of rape last year – triggering the movement – told The Sunday Times her fellow campaigners were ‘lily-livered’ and ‘losers’ for excluding her from survivors’ lunches.
‘Insight into his conduct’