Real Madrid forward Benzema faces verdict in blackmail trial

VERSAILLES, France (AP) — A French court trying an alleged blackmail case involving Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema and four other defendants expects to render its verdict on Friday. Benzema hasn’t been attending the trial that opened Wednesday in Versailles and is scheduled to wrap up Friday. He is charged with complicity in the alleged attempt in 2015 to blackmail France teammate Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape thought to have been stolen from his mobile phone. Prosecutors asked Thursday that Benzema be fined 75,000 euros, the equivalent of $87,000, the maximum allowed on his charge. They also asked for a suspended 10-month jail term. The law allows for a maximum of 5 years imprisonment. The four other defendants are being tried on charges of attempted blackmail.