Woman who accused Wallaby Kurtley Beale of rape marries as jury retires to consider verdict

The woman who accused Kurtley Beale of sexual assault at a Bondi hotel is getting married today, as the jury returns the verdict on the case.

Former Wallabies player Kurtley Beale arrives at Downing Centre Court on Friday. Picture: Jeremy Piper

The woman who accused rugby star Kurtley Beale of raping her in a toilet cubicle and sexually touching her without consent is due to be married today.

The Saturday Telegraph understands the nuptials were scheduled to go ahead in Australia on Friday as the jury in the trial retired to consider its verdict.

Judge Graham Turnbull on Friday morning gave his final directions before the jury of seven women and five men retired for deliberations around 12.30pm.
They returned with a not guilty verdict about 3pm.

The woman was not in the courtroom on Friday morning for the final stages of the two-week trial, something legal sources say is common for complainants in such a matter.

“A complainant does not usually stay for this part of the proceedings so that normal for her not to be there,” one legal expert said.

Beale faced one count of sexual intercourse without consent and two counts of sexual touching in the NSW District Court, following an incident at Bondi’s Beach Road Hotel in December 2022.

The woman claimed Beale touched her backside and forced her to perform oral sex in a toilet cubicle.

In her closing address on Thursday, the rugby star’s lawyer Margaret Cunneen SC argued the woman concocted the sexual assault to gain sympathy from her fiance.

Crown prosecutor Jeff Tunks said it is up to the jury whether they believe the woman’s version of events, including that she repeatedly told Beale “no”.

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