Thomas Partey Denies New Rape Allegations

Ex-Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey has denied two fresh allegations of rape. The 32-year-old athlete appeared in Southwark Crown Court on Monday, entering not guilty pleas for the alleged incidents, which reportedly occurred in December 2020 in London. Partey had previously been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in July last year, stemming from incidents in 2021 and 2022, to which he also pleaded not guilty. A trial for those charges was initially set for November this year. However, with the addition of two new rape allegations announced in February, the court has decided to try all the allegations together, potentially delaying the trial until January next year. In total, Partey now faces seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, related to allegations from four different women. During the hearing, Partey, dressed in dark grey trousers, a black jumper, and smart black shoes, confirmed his name and entered the not guilty pleas. He had been absent from a previous hearing last month, but his lawyer had indicated that not guilty pleas would be entered. Partey, a key player for the Ghana national team, is expected to play against England in the World Cup this summer. He is currently on bail with the condition that he does not contact the alleged victims. The case is set to be heard in court again on May 14 for a pre-trial hearing, with the trial date to be confirmed once the judge has been assigned.