On November 5, a trial began in Dublin involving Irish mixed martial artist Conor McGregor and his friend, accused of raping a woman six years ago, according to the Daily Mail.
The plaintiff, 35-year-old hair stylist Nikita Hand, claims she was raped by McGregor and James Lawrence. According to the victim, the athlete and his friend had non-consensual sex with her twice without her consent in the penthouse of a Dublin hotel after a party where they used cocaine.
Ms. Hand’s representative stated that his client is “not an angel and doesn’t pretend to be one,” describing her as having “partied hard,” consumed alcohol, and taken antidepressants.
On December 8, 2018, Ms. Hand attended a work Christmas party and later called McGregor to continue the celebration.
They had known each other since childhood and kept in touch through social media. Later, McGregor, his friend, Ms. Hand, and her female friend went to a hotel, where the alleged “assault took place”.
Following the incident, Ms. Hand reportedly had multiple bruises and scratches. She claims McGregor restrained her in a “chokehold,” pinning her to the bed and saying, “Now you know what it was like in the Octagon.”
Judge Alexander Owens said that the pair is accused of having “in effect raped her.”
McGregor and Lawrence deny all allegations, insisting the encounter was consensual. Their lawyers argue that Ms. Hand is attempting to extort money. The trial, expected to last two weeks, will be decided by a jury of eight women and four men.