The Snitch: Jarryd Hayne will need new lawyers if third rape trail goes ahead

If the DPP elects to make former NRL star Jarryd Hayne face a third rape trial, he will need a new set of lawyers, The Snitch reveals.

Get your elbows out and put in your mouthguard – there’s about to be a bit of jostling going on.

Jarryd Hayne might need a new set of lawyers.

That is, of course, only if the Director of Public Prosecutions Sally Dowling SC elects to make the ex-NRL star face a third rape trial.

In the event that she does, all eyes in the legal world will be on who he hires for “take three” of his trial.

The solicitor Hayne used for his first two trials, Penny Musgrave, was appointed as a District Court judge in December so she won’t be available.

We’re told the barrister Hayne used for the second trial, Richard Pontello SC, isn’t going around again.

Jarryd Hayne is looking for new lawyers. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dylan Coker

Hayne has long retained the services of solicitor Ramy Qutami who appeared in court for the 34-year-old this week.

But Qutami specialises in property law and usually deals with major corporations, meaning a dedicated crime lawyer might be enlisted to sit in on the trial.

Hayne used barrister Phillip Boulten SC for the first run of this trial, which resulted in a hung jury.

We’re told that when Hayne was first charged there was one particular lawyer who made a pest of himself in his efforts to get the job, but was ultimately unsuccessful.

So get your CVs in order and be careful not to get trampled.

LONG ROAD TO RETRIAL CALL

Anyone familiar with the processes of the Office of the DPP knows it was always going to take more than 3.5 days for it to give an answer as to whether Hayne will face a third trial.

As a quick recap, Hayne won his appeal on Monday, and had his matter mentioned in court on Friday where a DPP lawyer said a decision was still to be reached on whether to run a third trial.

Director of Public Prosecutions Sally Dowling SC is carefully looking at Hayne’s case.

This shouldn’t be read as an indicator that the DPP is thinking about dropping the case.

Instead, it’s got everything to do with the processes the ODPP has to follow, which will take more than the few days they had before Hayne’s matter was mentioned in court on Friday.

The ODPP has to review the appeal decision and examine that against the transcript from the trial to decide if there are still reasons to run the case.

They also have to conference with the complainant to gauge her attitude to going again.

The same has to be done with the police.

Internal reports have to be written and meetings have to occur within the director’s chambers.

FAST EDDIE RIDES AGAIN

Eddie Obeid has been on almost every ride in the amusement park that is sometimes known as the NSW legal system.

He’s had the full probe from the Independent Commission Against Corruption, been jailed by the Supreme Court, and had a few losses in the Court of Criminal Appeal.

Eddie Obeid is expected to face the Federal Court next.

His next stop is the Federal Court of Australia.

What’s in your showbag, Eddie? Bankruptcy, if things don’t go his way.

Obeid and a few of his family members have been given a March 1 hearing date at the court where ICAC is now moving to bankrupt the former NSW politician.

ICAC moved to bankrupt Obeid and a few of his family after they lost a related case against the anti-corruption agency and were ordered to pay for its lawyers.

That was about $1.5 million. And when it wasn’t paid, ICAC took action to bankrupt them.

BUSY HANDS

We’re told a sitting judge in NSW has been hauled over the coals for getting a bit too Dyson Heydon with some of their staff.

The inappropriate interactions were apparently reported, leading to action being taken by a higher power.

Do you know any more about this? Fill us in on the email below.

GOT A SNITCH? Contact [e-mail]