Benzema could be found guilty or acquitted on Friday

The judge in the sex tape blackmail case involving Karim Benzema and Mathieu Valbuena is set to hand down his verdict on Friday.

Benzema has not been present at the trial due to "professional reasons" - as stated by his legal team - but could be subject to five years in jail if found guilty.

In the latest episode of the hearing, one of the defendants Mustapha Zouaoui has denied ever demanding money from Valbuena.

Zouaoui and another defendant Axel Angot are accused of trying to blackmail Valbuena - then a France international - by making a sex tape they found on his phone public.

"I'm sincerely sorry," Zouaoui said to Valbuena.

"It's not good what I did.

"You don't deserve to be here."

Benzema's lawyers insist the Real Madrid forward is innocent.

"This case has had enormous repercussions since day one," Antoine Vey said.

"My client has always maintained his innocence.

"He was not directly involved in any of the discussions.

"His position as a defendant is unexplainable."