Dani Alves acquitted of rape after successful appeal in Spain

In Spain, Dani Alves, a former professional soccer player, had his rape conviction overturned by the Catalonia higher court following an appeal. Initially sentenced in February 2024 to four and a half years for sexually assaulting a woman in a Barcelona nightclub on New Year’s Eve 2022, Alves spent 14 months in jail before being released on bail in March. The court found significant inconsistencies in the prosecution's case, highlighting that the testimony of the alleged victim contradicted evidence from surveillance footage. The ruling was unanimous, indicating a lack of sufficient evidence to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The allegations against Alves stemmed from an encounter at an upscale nightclub in Barcelona, where according to the plaintiff, she entered the bathroom with Alves willingly but claimed he assaulted her inside. Throughout the trial, Alves maintained that their interaction was consensual, denying any wrongdoing and asserting that the woman had not indicated any desire to leave during the encounter. The differences in accounts between Alves and the victim led to serious questions regarding the reliability of the evidence presented in the original verdict. As a result, the judges in the appeals court ruled that the evidence was insufficient to eliminate Alves’ presumption of innocence. This verdict marks a significant moment in the context of consent laws in Spain, particularly following the introduction of reforms aimed at defining sexual assault laws more clearly, often referenced as the “only yes means yes” law. The ruling not only impacts Alves personally but also serves as a wider commentary on issues surrounding consent in sexual assault cases. Since the ruling, Alves has been cleared to travel freely, having had his preliminary restrictions lifted. His case has attracted significant media attention, highlighting the complexities involved in legal proceedings concerning sexual assault. Despite being acquitted, Alves has faced considerable public scrutiny over the incidents that led to his conviction, which was the first high-profile case following the overhaul of Spain's consent laws in 2022. The implications of this case and the broader conversation around consent in France continue to resonate within societal discussions about sexual violence and legal accountability.