Jarryd Hayne addresses the media for the first time following rape allegations
JARRYD Hayne, accused of raping a woman in the US, has hired top Los Angeles lawyer Mark Baute who two years ago acted for Cleveland Cavaliers star Derrick Rose who was cleared by a jury of gang raping his ex-girlfriend.
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JARRYD Hayne says he will “avoid” and “deflect” questions about US rape allegations, claiming it’s a matter for his lawyers.
In his first press conference since the allegations surfaced, Hayne refused to answer questions about the alleged incident, saying he was there to talk about football.
When asked if he would be travel to the US to defend himself, he said: “I’m not too sure”.
“There’s a statement that’s going to come out after this and that’s as much as I can say about it. I know youse (sic) want to talk about it and go into detail and all that sort of stuff but we won’t be doing that today because it’s a legal matter,” he said from the Eels’ training ground in Parramatta.
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“It’s just one of them things you gotta’ go through, you gotta’ fight through a bit of adversity. “As players we go through all sorts of things and this is the situation I’m in and we’ll go through it and there’s been support from staff and everyone from the Eels. It means a lot to me.”
When pressed on answering questions around the allegations, Hayne fired up, saying: “I can’t talk about it”.
“If youse want to talk about football I’m more than happy. I think youse need to understand and make it very clear that this situation that’s going on I can’t talk about it,” he said.
“So youse can ask whatever youse want to ask but I’m just going to avoid it and deflect it and talk about my lawyers.”
Hayne has hired top Los Angeles lawyer Mark Baute who two years ago acted for Cleveland Cavaliers star Derrick Rose who was cleared by a jury of gang raping his ex-girlfriend.
Rose was alleged to have raped the 30-year-old college student along with two of his friends while she was incapacitated from drugs or alcohol.
During the celebrated civil trial, Rose’s defence lawyers tarred the woman as a liar who was angry he had dumped her and alleged she had brought the lawsuit in hopes of a big payout. The woman, who cried in court, had originally sought $21.5 million.
Mr Baute had urged jurors to recognise the civil claim as a “hoax and a joke” and not even award $20 because that could destroy Rose’s career and trigger financial ruin for the star and the extended family and friends he had pulled out of poverty from Chicago’s south side with his talent on the court.
Neither side denied the three men had sex with the woman, but the issue was whether she consented or was too intoxicated to do so.
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Hayne denied the alleged incident played a role in his decision to leave the NFL.
He wouldn’t be drawn on why he didn’t inform the NRL, Titans or Eels of the allegations against him, saying: “You can talk to my lawyers about that.”
While the Eels star made it clear he denied the allegations, he told reporters he wouldn’t be talking about the matter until the court case was finalised.
“Because it’s a legal process the defending will be coming from my lawyers and so I’m legally obliged to not say a lot about it,” he said.
“Obviously after the court case is finished and all that sort of stuff I can and I will, so we’ve gotta’ let the justice system do what a justice system is meant to do and that’s about it.
“I vehemently deny the allegations. I think I’ve made that pretty clear through my lawyers.”
Hayne said he “can’t remember” whether he told his family about the allegations prior to them surfacing in the media.
Media Statement on behalf of Jarryd Hayne @dailytelegraph @channel10news @smh @theheraldsun @news.com.au @australian @9NewsSyd @couriermail @SkyNewsAust @9NewsAUS @abcgrandstand @7NewsSydney pic.twitter.com/StBnaKILp0
— Madison Marcus (@MadisonMarcusAU) December 20, 2017
“It’s been tough for them (Hayne’s family). It’s been pretty emotional too just seeing them get ambushed and I guess that sort of thing was pretty disappointing and hard to watch and listen to but they’re strong. We’re getting through it and we’ll get through this,” he said.
Hayne released a statement via his Australian lawyers Madison Marcus Law Firm.
“The last week or so have been personally distressing for not only me but my family and friends, as civil proceedings making serious allegations have been publicly aired, and certain media have followed me on a personal pre-planned trip to the other side of the world,” Hayne said in the statement.
“I was not given any notice of these proceedings prior to any media reports. I confirm that I unequivocally and vehemently deny the allegations made against me and I will be vigorously defending the matter. As everyone should understand, I cannot publicly discuss anything relating to this matter as it is now the subject of legal proceedings in the United States.
“I’d like to thank all my family, friends and fans who have both privately and publicly sent messages of support. My request to the media is to provide my family and I respect and privacy at this time.
“I cannot and will not make any further comment regarding this matter until the legal proceedings are concluded.”
The two-time Dally M medallist has previously denied in a written statement claims from a US civil suit that he raped a 25-year-old woman in late 2015 during his stint in the NFL.