NRL: Jack de Belin sexual assault trial starts
More than 40 witnesses, including NRL players will be involved in the trial of Jack de Belin and his co-accused Callan Sinclair, who are facing serious sexual assault allegations in the NSW District Court.
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Twelve jurors have been selected to determine the fate of Dragons star Jack de Belin, who is facing trial over allegations he sexually assaulted a young woman following a night out in Wollongong almost two years ago.
The 29-year-old faced the NSW District Court on Monday for the first day of his trial with co-accused Callan Sinclair, 22, where they each pleaded not guilty to five charges of aggravated sexual assault.
On Monday, a 12-person jury was selected, with Crown prosecutor Dave Scully telling the group the pair were charged following allegations they sexually assaulted a 19-year-old woman at another man’s apartment on Gipps Street in North Wollongong on December 9, 2018.
He said it was the Crown’s case that both de Belin and Sinclair allegedly sexually assaulted the woman by having vaginal, anal and oral sex with her without her consent.
It’s been a long road to trial for the pair, after complex legal arguments delayed the proceedings, which were initially set to begin in February.
On Monday, the jury pool was read a long list of almost 50 witnesses involved in the trial, which included De Belin’s long-term partner Alyce Taylor, and NRL players Euan Aitken and Adam Clune.
After making his opening remarks to the jury on Monday morning, Judge Andrew Haesler adjourned the matter for the day, with the Crown and De Belin and Sinclair’s defence teams due to make their opening remarks on Tuesday morning.
The jury was told the trial was expected to last two to three weeks.
Sinclair was supported by his family on Monday, while de Belin left the court alone.