Cristiano Ronaldo rape accuser Kathryn Mayorga ‘considered suicide and has a learning disability’, lawyer reveals
CRISTIANO Ronaldo’s rape accuser Kathryn Mayorga has a "learning disability" and "thought about killing herself" after the alleged attack, her lawyers said on Wednesday night.
The model's attorney told a press conference in Las Vegas that she suffered severe emotional and mental damage and the "last eight or nine years have been difficult".
Ms Mayorga claims Ronaldo sexually assaulted her in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2009, days after his £80million move from Manchester United to Real Madrid.
The megastar, 33, has strongly denied the allegations and once again accused his alleged victim of “promoting” herself using his name.
Last night, Ms Mayorga's lawyers said a summons had been sent to Ronaldo setting out the civil lawsuit against him – and he had 20 days to respond.
They also said Ms Mayorga was examined earlier this year and diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression and had admitted considering suicide.
Lawyer Larissa Drohobyczer said that when Ms Mayorga approached their firm, "she appeared to emotionally fragile and frightened".
She added: "She explained that since the 2009 sexual assault, she had experienced depression, intrusive thoughts, considered suicide, abused alcohol and difficulty maintaining personal relationships and employment."
Attorney Leslie Stovall added: "It’s been very difficult. She's an individual who suffers with major depression, PTSD which involves intrusive thoughts.
"She has a lot of problems. It’s been difficult for her, the last eight or nine years have been difficult."
The 65-year-old said: "She’s in active therapy and the people working with her and very supportive. She’s going to get through it."
Mr Stovall added: "She had a learning disability from high school. She worked very hard to overcome that and went onto obtain a degree in journalism. She may have a teaching certificate also."
When asked why she was not at the press conference, he responded: "She has decided not to make herself available to the media and the public because of her emotional state. It’s not pleasant for her."
He said a doctor had attributed her PTSD and depression to the 2009 alleged assault by Ronaldo.
When asked why she had decided to come forward now, Mr Stovall said: “The #MeToo movement and the woman who have stood up has given Kathryn a lot of courage."
Mr Stovall also threatened to release documents allegedly showing that the footballer admitted to his attorneys that the alleged victim said “no” and “stop”.
He also confirmed they had received two sets of documents on Ronaldo from the ‘Football Leaks’ whistleblowers.
The documents, which they may release next week, allegedly included communication between the player and his team negotiations documents regarding the £287,000 settlement with the star and Ms Mayorga.
Mr Stovall added that if they win the civil suit against Ronaldo, she may have to give up the £287,000 agreed with the player in the 2010 settlement.
Juventus forward Ronaldo earlier released a statement to his 75million Twitter followers strongly denying the claim.
He said: “I firmly deny the accusations being issued against me.
“Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in.
“Keen as I may be to clear my name, I refuse to feed the media spectacle created by people seeking to promote themselves at my expense.
“My clear conscious will thereby allow me to await with tranquillity the results of any and all investigations.”
The Portuguese star had previously rubbished Ms Mayorga’s rape claims as “fake, fake news” in an Instagram video, adding: “They want to be famous to say my name.”
Mr Stovall then responded: “Physical evidence, answers to written questions and the circumstances surrounding the purported agreement are not ‘fake news’.”
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed earlier this week that it had re-opened the 2009 rape investigation into Ronaldo.
It came after former model and teacher Ms Mayorga, 34, claimed that the former Red Devil’s ace assaulted her in a bedroom at the Palms Casino Resort in June 2009.
The pair had met at Rain nightclub at the Palms, where Ronaldo was staying on holiday.
Pictures and video showed Ronaldo and Ms Mayorga dancing together at the club.
In one intimate moment, he clasped her hand while whispering into her ear.
According to documents filed at Clark County District Court, in Nevada, the footballer invited Ms Mayorga and a friend to his penthouse suite “to enjoy the view of the Las Vegas Strip”.
The court documents state that as she was changing clothes to go into his hot tub, Ronaldo entered the bathroom, exposed himself and asked her to perform a sex act.
He then assaulted her in a bedroom, the court papers claim.
According to the court documents the striker then turned Ms Mayorga on to her side and raped her, despite her screaming: “No, no, no!”
The papers claim Ronaldo left the bedroom after the assault “stating he was sorry, he was usually a gentleman”.
She later hired a lawyer and negotiated a £287,000 out-of-court settlement with Ronaldo in 2010.
But she is now seeking to overturn that settlement, which she says she only signed because she was “terrified of retaliation” from the goalscorer.
On Tuesday night, the £100million Juventus star watched his team play in the Champions League.
He was unable to take the field after getting sent off in the previous match.
Ronaldo was accompanied by his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez, 23, and his seven-year-old son.
She posted a photo on Instagram yesterday with his children – tagging the football player – and added the caption: “Lucky daddy - with him every day is wonderful.”
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