Leicester players appear in Spanish court

Three Leicester City soccer players accused of sexual assault appeared at a Spanish court today to give evidence to a judge who…

Three Leicester City soccer players accused of sexual assault appeared at a Spanish court today to give evidence to a judge who will decide whether the case goes to full trial.

Frank Sinclair, Keith Gillespie and Paul Dickov, who all play for the English premier league side, were sent to jail last Friday after a judge heard declarations from them and from the three alleged victims of the incident in a luxury Spanish hotel.

The three players have all protested their innocence "in the strongest possible terms", Leicester City have said, and are hoping to win bail after today's hearing.

The judge is likely to decide on the men's application for bail after today's sessions.    Proceedings could include a face-to-face meeting between the men and women before the judge.

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A Spanish lawyer for the three women has said two of them were from Kenya and one from Malawi, and they were on holiday at the La Manga resort at the same time as the Leicester City players were there for a training camp.

The accusations against the three Leicester players, announced by police when they arrested the men, include sexual assault, breaking and entering, and failure to provide assistance.

Regardless of whether they are granted bail, investigations will continue and could last weeks or months. At the end of the process, the judge will decide if the men are to face trial and on what formal charges.

Spain's penal code says sexual assault - which can include rape - carries sentences from one to 15 years.