First day in the trial of Alexander Zverev cut short after lawyer requests a closed session
My report from a shorter than expected first day of Alexander Zverev's assault trial.
His defense team was able to attack the claims of the alleged victim, his ex-girlfriend.
Her lawyer says they're trying to undermine her credibility.
For @dw_sports https://t.co/bVvepms2Wg
- Jonathan Crane (@jonathancrane5) May 31, 2024
- Tennis player Alexander Zverev was charged by a Berlin court of "physically abusing a woman and damaging her health during an argument."
- The woman (who is not named in media but has identified herself on social media and via lawyers) is the mother of his child
- The case arose (October 2021) after the accuser used the accusation to attempt to remove custody of their daughter from Zverev
- Zverev is accused of pushing the woman against the wall during an argument and strangling her with both hands to the point she had issues swallowing for several days after after a fight in May 2020
- Zverev's lawyers have attacked the credibility of the woman in question claiming she is money hungry, used to spend his money excessively and lied about her career more than once
- They also claim to have texts from the accuser saying she would 'go to the media like Olya [another woman who accused Zverev of DV]' if Zverev did not pay her more money in child support
- Zverev's team will also call on a speech expert who claims the accuser mirrored the claims of his other accusor, copying her wording an media strategy. It is believed the two have been in known contact and follow each other on social media.
- Zverev's team has also allegedly submitted video of her and him together having dinner with friends and family 2 days after the incident seemingly uninjured and in a relaxed and happy mood
- Zverev's lawyers have requested a closed session for the privacy of the tennis player and for the benefit of their young daughter
- The accuser's lawyers claim they do not have any objections to the sessions being closed and claim the accuser's aims are only for justice
- While Zverev's victims have both times gone to the media with accusations, this instance is the first public rebuttal from Zverev besides statements of denial.
- An ATP investigation into both claims concluded they would take no action against Zverev
- Zverev, currently playing at Roland Garros, is not expect to attend court.
Source
This is the first English source I've seen document the situation and length about her accusations.