Jarryd Hayne trial judge Graham Turnbull sent threatening letter

Just days before jailing disgraced NRL star Jarryd Hayne, the judge in the case reported a threatening letter sent directly to his chambers.

Police are investigating serious threats against the judge who presided over Jarryd Hayne’s rape trial, made in the days before he sentenced the disgraced NRL star.

Police sources said Judge Graham Turnbull this week reported a letter sent directly to his chambers.

The letter prompted major security concerns ahead of the jailing of Hayne on Friday.

One source said the threat included the perpetrator saying they knew where the respected judge lives.

Judge Turnbull, through the NSW District Court, declined to comment and it is unclear whether any extra security arrangements were made for his protection ahead of the sentencing.

Hayne being taken away into custody last month. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“The safety of all court users is a key priority for the Department of Communities and Justice,” a department spokeswoman said.

“As this matter is under NSW Police investigation it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

The chaotic scenes as Hayne and his supporters leave court in 2021 after he was found guilty the first time. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Hayne’s case has long been marred by stoushes, including when one supporter was fined by police after the second trial for spitting in the direction of his victim outside of court.

At the time Hayne was first convicted in 2021, violent scenes played out with his supporters clashing with media outside Newcastle courthouse.

The threat against Judge Turnbull prompted the District Court this week to ask journalists to refrain from taking images of sitting judges outside of court and using previous photos due to “recent security concerns”.

Judge Turnbull’s picture, in the lead up to Hayne’s sentencing, was published several times in multiple outlets prior to the court’s warning.

Jarryd Hayne’s barrister Margaret Cunneen SC. Picture: NCA NewsWire

“Photos of judges used in media reports should show them fully robed and wigged, unless otherwise approved by the court,” a District Court spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

Hayne’s high profile barrister Margaret Cunneen SC relayed similar concerns when the case was last before the court that she too was on the receiving end of abuse on social media.

At the time Ms Cunneen was arguing in court that the “hundreds” of threats made against Hayne justified keeping the former Parramatta Eels star out of custody.

One mentioned that she and Hayne “deserved a bullet in the head”.

It is understood the veteran lawyer did not report them to police.

Judge Turnbull was appointed to the bench in February 2019 after a distinguished career at the bar.

His most high profile case as a barrister came in 2015 when he represented Lin family murderer Robert Xie.

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