Jarryd Hayne speaks out after remaining rape costs had been dropped
A smiling Jarryd Hayne declared himself harmless whereas thanking the “boys inside” after rape costs towards him had been formally dropped, ending a virtually six-year authorized battle that included two convictions.
Prosecutors informed the court docket as we speak they won’t proceed to pursue sexual assault costs towards the previous NRL star, ending the chance he’ll face a fourth trial over the allegations.
The 36-year-old’s conviction on two counts of rape was overturned by the Court docket of Attraction earlier in June.
However Hayne nonetheless faces a civil lawsuit filed by the lady who accused him of sexual assault, with a listening to scheduled for late July.
At present, the previous star full-back was launched from Sydney’s Downing Heart court docket with no prison case hanging over his head for the primary time since 2018.
“I’ve stayed true to myself all through this entire course of,” a visibly relieved Hayne informed reporters exterior court docket.
“At present is vindication for myself, my household and my family members.
“I thank God for maintaining me sane throughout this season.”
Hine stated the method was not solely tough for him, but additionally for his spouse, who appeared in court docket alongside him.
“What she needed to undergo was tough,” Hine stated.
He described the method, which noticed him go from rugby league royalty to convicted rapist, as “like a curler coaster”.
“I simply need to thank everybody who supported me from day one and stood by me and stood by me,” he stated.
“The boys inside who stood by me, the buddies exterior and everybody who stood shoulder to shoulder with me.”
Experiences declare Hayne raped a lady along with his fingers and mouth at her dwelling in Newcastle on the night time of the 2018 Nationwide Rugby League Grand Last.
In April 2023, he was discovered responsible by a jury and sentenced to a most jail time period of 4 years and 9 months.
However the New South Wales Court docket of Felony Attraction overturned Hine’s convictions on the grounds that the decide had erred in not permitting the complainant to bear additional questioning through the trial.
He was launched on bail after a court docket ruling after spending greater than a 12 months behind bars.
Forward of as we speak’s listening to, the Workplace of the Director of Public Prosecutions stated the choice to not proceed with a fourth trial was made in accordance with prosecutorial pointers, with out disclosing particular causes for the choice.
“The document will replicate that the Crown has discontinued all proceedings towards Mr Hayne,” Justice Craig Everson informed the court docket as we speak.
Three separate prison trials have alleged that the lady, who can’t be recognized for authorized causes, modified her thoughts about having intercourse with Hinn after she realised he had a taxi ready exterior her dwelling.
Tim Jim SC, the previous NFL participant’s lawyer, stated on the enchantment listening to in April that the lady had deleted messages between her and Hayne that confirmed she had initially expressed a sexual curiosity in him.
His protection group additionally claimed the lady ought to have been questioned about why she informed police: “If these messages get out, I will probably be in hassle and he’ll get away.”
Decide Graham Turnbull, who presided over Hayne’s third trial, rejected requests to cross-examine the lady concerning the assertion, saying it carried “no important weight”.
Hine’s overturned convictions got here after a hung jury at his first trial in 2020 and an earlier enchantment to overturn the 2021 responsible verdict from his second trial.
The 36-year-old performed 11 instances for Australia and 23 for New South Wales in a profession that additionally included a stint with the AFL’s San Francisco 49ers.
