Reports on the latest developments in the investigation into the figure of Dani Alves, former Pumas player, for an alleged rape and sexual assault of a woman in the Sutton nightclub in Barcelona in the early hours of 30th to 31st December. The new factors, an involuntary recording of a mosso d’esquadra, some traces of semen and some fingerprints.
In light of the new factors that could serve to convict Dani Alves of alleged sexual assault and rape, charges for which he is remanded in custody without bail, the former Pumas player faces a tough few days. ‘El Periodico de Catalunya’ brought to light the details that have been uncovered as a result of the police investigation. They are based on a recording of a mosso d’esquadra, some traces of semen and some fingerprints.
The first issue is the video filmed by the police officer. In the moments after the events reported by the victim, which took place in the early hours of 30th to 31st December 2022, the victim called for help to the nearest authorities to report what had happened. She found a Mossos d’Esquadra patrol. One of the officers inadvertently activated his personal chest camera, immortalising the woman’s initial account.
Heartbroken and nervous, she narrated a series of actions on the part of Alves that she maintained both two days later, when she formalised her complaint, and on 20th January, when she appeared before the courts as a result of the process. In other words, she was faithful to the same version both in a state of shock and a few weeks later, when she had had time to process what she had experienced and was therefore presumed to be completely lucid.
Second element: traces of semen. The source mentioned in the first paragraph indicates that, when the girl went to Hospital Clinic to be examined as a potential victim of sexual assault, the specialists found traces of semen on her body, as well as scratches compatible with a struggle -she had some bruises on her knees-. This aspect is key because it makes up the medical report that she presented in court.
Third element: fingerprints. When the forensic police inspected the bathroom where the sexual assault and rape allegedly took place, they found the victim’s fingerprints in places that coincide with the victim’s account, i.e. her hands were where she said they would be because of how Dani Alves allegedly forced her to perform fellatio and be penetrated until the player ejaculated.
Other fingerprints have also been identified, those of a second person. The authorities’ hypothesis, of course, is that both the semen and these second fingerprints belong to Dani Alves. It only remains to be compared with the DNA of the full-back, who could be very close to being convicted for the acts of which he is accused if the investigations progress in this direction. In the meantime, he has hired criminal lawyer Cristobal Martell and changed his statement on several occasions. The victim has always maintained the same version.
