Karim Benzema’s lawyers have asked for the sex tape blackmail case to be dismissed following another set of hearings in court. They have stated that the prosecution’s motives are based on media interest only.
The Real Madrid forward was absent on the second day of the hearing of his case due to professional reasons. On the final day of the hearings in Versailles, Benzema’s lawyers stated that their opposition had failed to bring any substantial evidence to convict the accused in the case based on charges of blackmail.
The 33-year-old France striker stated that he was only trying to help Valbuena by stating that he could help his teammate find someone who could manage the video.
‘One can ask what really interests French people in this case? Sex? Money? Football? Not the judicial element in any case,’ lawyer Antoine Vey told the court, adding that the prosecution’s case had been built around Valbuena’s ‘feelings’.
Addressing the judge, he added: ‘It’s never too late to do some law. You are the final safeguard.’
Benzema’s other lawyer, Sylvain Cormier, criticised a ‘media-judicial circus’.
The verdict of the case will be announced on November 24th. The prosecution has demanded a 10-month suspension sentence and a fine worth €75,000. They also claimed that Benzema was working on behalf of the blackmailers, who wanted money from Valbuena and that the blackmailers were actually Benzema’s childhood friends from his hometown in Lyon.
Benzema is set to feature in the high profile El Clasico game against Barcelona this weekend, which could be the main reason behind his absence in court.
