World Cup-winning Germany defender Jerome Boateng appeared in court in Munich on Thursday morning to face allegations of assault on his ex-fiancée Sherin Senler.
Boateng, 33, is accused of causing dangerous bodily harm to Senler, who is the mother of his twin daughters, in an incident in 2018.
Wearing a navy suit in the dock alongside his lawyer Kai Walden, the former Manchester City and Bayern Munich defender appeared in court to face the allegations levelled against him.
If he is found guilty he could be sentenced to as much as give years in prison.
Last year German newspaper Bild reported that Boateng is alleged have 'thrown a small glass candle holder' at Senler while away on holiday.
The public prosecutor's office No 1 of Munich has been investigating the incident for three years and while charges were brought before a district court on February 11 in 2019 it has taken until today to get the trail to court.
Boateng and his former partner were a couple for 10 years and have two children together.
Video evidence of the alleged assault was reported to have been viewed by the District Court but proceedings slowed down following the coronavirus outbreak in Europe back in March.
Boateng and Senler began dating in 2007 but have had a stormy relationship which has seen them separate on numerous occasions.
The pair's break up in 2011 - the same year twins Soley and Lamia were born - was so acrimonious that they were said to have only communicated through their lawyers.
Boateng and Senler, a former fashion student, rekindled their love in 2013 and got engaged the following year but are understood to have split again following the alleged assault in 2018.
More to follow.
