Jarryd Hayne to face third sexual assault trial

Prosecutors have decided to proceed with sexual assault charges against Jarryd Hayne with the former NRL star to face a jury once again, a court has heard.

Former NRL superstar Jarryd Hayne will face a third sexual assault trial with his lawyers seeking to shift proceedings to Newcastle.

The ex-NFL convert served nine months in prison after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman at her Newcastle home on NRL grand final night in 2018.

However the 34-year-old walked out of Cooma Correctional Centre last month after having his conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal.

Prosecutor Adrian Dragicevic on Friday morning told the NSW District Court that Mr Hayne would face a third trial after the Director of Public Prosecutions decided to push ahead with the charges.

“The matter is listed for arraignment so I can confirm the crown will be proceeding to a retrial,” Mr Dragicevic told the court.

The Director of Public Prosecutions was weighing up whether to proceed with the matter and on Friday morning broke the news to his lawyer Ramy Qutami that he would face a jury for a third time.

“We only just found out today about the crown’s position,” Mr Qutami told the court.

Former NRL superstar Jarryd Hayne will face a third sexual assault trial. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles.

The court also heard Mr Qutami would make an application for the trial to be moved to Newcastle.

Mr Hayne’s first trial in Newcastle in late 2020 resulted in a hung jury.

However, following a second at Sydney’s Downing Centre Court in March last year, a jury found the former Parramatta Eels fullback guilty of two counts of sexual assault.

Mr Hayne has consistently maintained that the sexual acts he performed on the woman were consensual.

The Court of Appeal in February quashed his conviction and ordered he face a retrial.

Jarryd Hayne is pushing for the trial to be held in Newcastle. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

During his appeal, his barrister Tim Game argued that the jury was given directions which were “flawed in almost every possible way” before they were sent to deliberate.

He also successfully appealed that the judge made an error in allowing a piece of evidence to be admitted.

He was granted bail and walked out of jail in time to celebrate his 34th birthday with his family.

He was bailed on the condition he forfeit $20,000 within seven days and report to Merrylands Police Station three days a week.

A hearing will be held on March 21 to determine the location of the upcoming trial.

Originally published as Jarryd Hayne to face third sexual assault trial