During a civil trial in Dublin’s High Court on Wednesday, a woman named Nikita Hand accused UFC star Conor McGregor of choking and sexually assaulting her in a Dublin hotel in 2018.
Hand testified that McGregor allegedly held her down, choking her multiple times, and that she feared for her life during the encounter, recalling thoughts of her young daughter as she struggled to fight him off. The former hairdresser, visibly emotional, requested several breaks during her testimony.
Who Is Nikita Hand?
Hand is seeking financial compensation from both McGregor and another individual, James Lawrence, alleging that both men were involved in the incident on December 9, 2018. She shared with the jury that after the assault, McGregor allegedly likened the act of choking her to his experience of “tapping out” in the octagon, according to the BBC. Hand expressed disappointment that Irish authorities had opted not to pursue criminal charges, a decision made in 2020.
McGregor’s legal team argued that the encounter was consensual, accusing Hand of attempting to extort him. A spokesperson for McGregor has previously stated that Irish police thoroughly investigated the claim but found no grounds for prosecution.
Hand and McGregor are reportedly familiar with each other, having grown up in the same area, exchanged messages on social media, and shared mutual friends. She described the alleged incident as leaving her with bruises, a scratch on her chest, and neck pain, resulting in an inability to work due to mental health challenges.
Conor McGregor’s Legal Troubles
McGregor, who is one of the highest-paid athletes globally, has faced multiple legal issues over the years.
These include an incident where he was fined for punching an elderly man in a Dublin pub in 2019 and another where he settled a case involving the destruction of a fan’s phone outside a Miami hotel. The trial is anticipated to last around two weeks.
