The Snitch: Ex-NRL star Jarryd Hayne’s rape trial delayed for months

Several high-profile court cases, including former rugby league star Jarryd Hayne’s rape case, are set to be delayed after the virus crisis shut down NSW courts. If Hayne wants to go ahead with a jury trial, it could be put back until at least October.

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The coronavirus pandemic has put a freeze on what was set to be a massive year in the state’s courts, with several high-profile cases delayed until who knows when.

NRL star Jarryd Hayne’s rape case was listed to go to trial in the Newcastle District Court on May 4. But that’s almost guaranteed not to happen thanks to the measures aimed at stopping COVID-19.

The District Court Chief Judge Derek Price announced this week that any trials that were to take place in front of a jury are now to be delayed until at least October.

Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne’s rape trial is expected to be delayed for months. Picture: AAP/Darren Pateman

The only way Hayne could have his case heard earlier would be to waive his right to have it heard in front of a jury and proceed with a judge alone trial. His case is listed for mention on April 9.

He’s not the only high-profile case set to be delayed. In the NSW Supreme Court, the murder trial of the men accused of shooting former bikie boss Mahmoud “Mick” Hawi was set to start on July 27.

And the so-called super trial that takes in men accused of murdering mafia figure Pasquale Barbaro was set to start on Monday.

The trial of the men charged over the murder of Mick Hawi will be delayed.

The trial involving the men accused of murdering Pasquale Barbaro was supposed to begin on Monday.

They are all but guaranteed not to start given Chief Justice Tom Bathurst has suspended jury trials.

Commonwealth prosecutions must appear in front of a jury, so all of those — like accused tax cheat Adam Cranston — have also been put on the back burner.

A massive backlog in an already jam-packed court system is looming.

“We’re not even looking at that yet,” one court insider said.

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Spare a thought for anyone involved in a jury trial that was already running when the coronavirus threat hit. They are being forced to continue.

From what we’ve have been told, some of the cases are not going smoothly.

We reckon it would be understandable if the jurors were worried about having to travel into the city and sit in a room full of people.

But the courts have taken some social distancing measures.

This has included having the jurors sit all around the courtroom, with some in the jury box and others in the public gallery or anywhere else the room can accommodate.

INSULAR PENINSULA

The Shire has always been accused of being insular, and now thanks to the coronavirus Sutherland police station has officially shut its borders.

The cop shop issued an edict to officers this month not to let any outsiders – police not permanently stationed at Sutherland – into the building. Exceptions can only be made by an Inspector or above.

The bold move is aimed at lowering the risk of the coronavirus spreading by decreasing the number of people coming in and out of the station.

Sutherland police station is limiting the amount of people who can come into the building.

But the restriction has left a bad taste in some people’s mouths.

Detectives often work out of police stations they are not attached to, especially if they are investigating a crime in that local area.

The Snitch hears two detectives attached to the Counter Terrorism Command tried to get into the station last week to retrieve important evidence as part of an ongoing investigation. But the officers didn’t make it past the front desk.

Terse words were exchanged and the refusal was not well received by senior police, who questioned the hygiene of dozens of people who streamed into the station to report for bail everyday.

RENT FREE

One Sydney barristers’ chamber has resolved to deal with the lack of income from the coronavirus period in typical bolshie fashion.

“We’re not paying rent for three months,” one of the barristers on the floor said.

It’s quite a bold move, but the barrister explained it was backed up by sound reasoning.

“Well the landlord can’t take us to court to kick us out – the Supreme Court isn’t hearing anything until October,” he said.

Fair point.

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