Former Manchester United footballer Ryan Giggs is on trial Monday on charges of assault and control over his ex-girlfriend.
iggs, 48, is accused of using controlling and coercive behavior against Kate Greville, 36, between August 2017 and November 2020.
He is also charged with assaulting Mrs Greville, causing her actual bodily harm, and the habitual assault of her younger sister, Emma Greville, at his home in Worsley, Greater Manchester, on November 1, 2020.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The trial, which is estimated to take 10 days, will begin at Minshull Street Crown Court before being transferred by the city to Manchester Crown Court from Tuesday for the remainder of the proceedings.
The city’s main criminal court in Crown Square had to close last week due to asbestos testing.
Giggs was due to appear in court in January, but the hearing was postponed due to the ongoing backlog of lawsuits exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The jury is expected to be sworn in on Monday in Minshull Street before the case is opened by the prosecution.
Judge Hilary Manley will preside over the trial.
Giggs stepped down as manager of the Wales national team in June after a period of leave since November 2020.
In a statement, he said he did not want the country’s preparations for this year’s World Cup in Qatar “to be affected, destabilized or jeopardized in any way by the continued interest in this matter”.
During Giggs’ time at Old Trafford, Manchester United won 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, four FA Cups and three League Cups.
He won 64 caps for Wales and co-owns Salford City in League Two.