Ryan Giggs trial: Jury discharged after failing to reach verdict

The jury in the trial for former Manchester United player Ryan Giggs has been discharged after failing to reach a verdict.

Giggs, 48, denied headbutting his former partner Kate Greville during a row at his home in Worsley, Greater Manchester on November 1, 2020.

The former Wales manager also denied using controlling behaviour, as well as assaulting Greville's sister Emma, 26 - pleading not guilty to all charges at Manchester Crown Court.

Giggs denied the allegations against him, pleading not guilty to all charges (Image: Alamy)

The jury failed to reach a verdict on any of three charges against Giggs after deliberating for 22 hours and 59 minutes.

Judge Hilary Manley asked the jury if they had reached a verdict on any of the counts, after previously instructing them that they could return a majority verdict instead of an unanimous one if 10 out of the 11 jurors agreed.

The foreman of the jury answered: "No."

Asked if there was any "realistic prospect" of them reaching verdicts if given more time, the foreman again answered: "No."

The jury at Manchester Crown Court was unable to deliver a verdict on any of the chargers against Giggs (Image: Alamy)

Judge Manley thanked the jurors, saying "it was clear they had striven hard to reach verdicts" and should not feel "dispirited".

She then discharged the jury and warned them not to discuss the case as there may be a retrial in the future.

Giggs permanently stepped down as Wales manager in June after temporarily leaving the role when he was first charged in 2020.

Giggs faces the possibility of a retrial next year (Image: Alamy)

Giggs said he did not want his nation's preparations for the World Cup in Qatar this winter to be "affected, destabilised or jeopardised in any way by the continued interest around this case".

A decision over whether he will face a retrial is expected to be made next week.

Any retrial will not take place until at least 5 June 2023, the judge added.