Jarryd Hayne WILL face a third trial over charges he raped a young woman he met on social media after a buck’s party
- Ex-NRL icon to face third trial over charges he raped a woman four years ago
- His two sexual assault convictions were overturned by NSW court last month
- NSW Director of Public Prosecutions elected to take case to trial once more
- Hayne’s lawyer applying for trial to be heard in Newcastle rather than Sydney
Jarryd Hayne will face a third trial over charges he raped a young woman at her home four years ago.
The former NRL icon’s two sexual assault convictions were overturned by the Court of Criminal Appeal last month.
The NSW Director of Public Prosecutions has elected to take the case to trial once more, a court heard on Friday.
Jarryd Hayne is seen following his release from prison on February 15, after his convictions were overturned by the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal
Amellia Bonnici, the mother of Hayne’s children and his wife, stood by him despite the rape conviction
Prosecutor Adrian Dragicevic told the District Court: ‘The Crown will be proceeding to a retrial’.
Hayne’s bail was continued.
Judge Dina Yehia was also told Hayne’s lawyer Ramy Qutami is applying for a change of venue from Sydney to Newcastle.
The application was listed for hearing on March 21.
When granting Hayne bail after his successful appeal, another judge said the earliest the trial may be able to proceed would be in October.
‘After that, we’re looking at 2023,’ he said.
Hayne served nine months of a minimum three years and eights months term imposed on him in May after he was found guilty of two charges of sexual intercourse without consent.
The ex-Parramatta player had earlier faced another trial where the jury could not reach a verdict.
The Crown contended in both trials Hayne forcibly performed oral and digital sexual intercourse on a woman in her NSW Hunter bedroom on the night of the 2018 NRL Grand Final.
Hayne has always maintained the encounter was consensual.
His barrister successfully argued for his convictions to be overturned on two appeal grounds – that there was an error in the legal directions given to the jury and an error in a pre-trial ruling on evidence.
Hayne’s bail conditions include a $20,000 surety, surrendering his passport and reporting to police three times a week.
He also must not contact or intimidate the alleged victim or any witnesses and cannot enter the Newcastle local government area.
This is a breaking news story. More to come
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