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Giggs, 48, who has stepped down as Wales national team manager
due to the case, faces charges of causing actual bodily harm to
former partner Kate Greville and beating her younger sister
Emma. He also faces one count of coercive and controlling
behaviour.
The former footballer, who sat in the dock wearing a dark suit,
has pleaded not guilty to the charges and his defence said the
allegations were "based on distortion, exaggeration and lies".
Opening the case for the prosecution, Peter Wright QC said there
was a marked contrast between Giggs the player and the way he
had behaved with his girlfriend in a "toxic relationship".
"On the pitch his skills were abundant and a thing of beauty.
Off the pitch and in the privacy of his personal life and home
and behind closed doors, there was a much uglier and more
sinister side to his character," he said.
Wright said the case involved "a litany of abuse, both physical
and psychological of a woman that he professed to love".
"The systematic and at times violent abuse of a woman is what
this case is all about, while all the time preying on her".
The prosecutor described an incident in which Giggs headbutted
Greville and "deliberately elbowed" her sister.
Giggs is on bail on condition that he has no contact with either
sister and does not go to any address where he believes they
might be.
The former United favourite, who has said he looks forward to
clearing his name, was first arrested in the case and released
on bail in November 2020.
Giggs's defence, Chris Daw QC said he "never once used unlawful
violence against Kate Greville" saying the pair "behaved like
squabbling children".
He said that Giggs acknowledged there was "minor and accidental
contact" during a tussle over a mobile phone but denied there
was a deliberate headbutt and said it was "not remotely a
criminal assault".
Daw told the jury that former United manager Alex Ferguson and
Giggs' former team mate Gary Neville will be heard from "in some
way" during the trial.
Giggs been replaced as Wales manager after initially stepping
aside in late 2020 due to the case.
Rob Page has taken over the side who have qualified for
November's World Cup finals in Qatar.
Giggs made 963 appearances over 23 years for Manchester United
as a player, a club record, winning a haul of honours including
13 Premier League titles and two UEFA Champions League trophies.
He represented Wales as a player 64 times between 1991 and 2007
and took over as national coach in 2018.
(Reporting by Simon Evans; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
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