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15 April 2004
MADRID – Three footballers from British team Leicester City players face a delay before a final decision is made on whether they should stand trial on sex assault charges in southern Spain, it emerged Thursday.
The investigation has been put back because of the Madrid train bombings.
Forensic science experts from across Spain were drafted in to help with the inquiry into the 11 March bombings, in which 192 people lost their lives.
As a result, inquiries into other cases were given lower priority.
Paul Dickov, 31, Keith Gillespie, 29, and Frank Sinclair, 32, were all bailed at a court hearing in March.
They face allegations of sexual assault against three German women, allegedly committed at the five-star Hyatt Regency hotel in La Manga.
Legal sources in Madrid now say it could be some time before the scientific analysis is completed. Investigating magistrate Jacinto Areste is awaiting the results of tests.
Court officials in Cartagena say no final decision has been made on whether the players should face trial. However, one legal source said it was increasingly likely they would.
All three men deny the charges but face up to 12 years in jail if convicted of rape.
[Copyright Expatica]
Subject: Spanish news