Thomas Partey Denies Latest Rape Allegations

Ex-Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey has denied two new allegations of rape. The 32-year-old midfielder appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, where he entered not guilty pleas for allegedly raping a woman in London in December 2020. This development comes after Partey was previously charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in July last year, to which he also pleaded not guilty. A trial for the initial charges was set for November this year. However, with the emergence of two new rape allegations in February, Judge Tony Baumgartner has decided that all allegations will be tried together, potentially delaying the trial until January next year. Partey now faces a total of seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, relating 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 was granted bail with the condition that he does not contact the alleged victims. Partey, a key player for the Ghana national side, is expected to face England in the World Cup this summer. His case is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on May 14, where a decision on the exact trial date will be made once the trial judge is confirmed.