Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman on the night of the 2018 NRL Grand Final.
According to ABC court reporter Jamie McKinnell, the jury found Hayne guilty of “two counts of sexual assault, without the circumstances of aggravation.”
#BREAKING A jury has found former NRL player Jarryd Hayne guilty of raping a woman on the night of the 2018 NRL grand final @abcnews @abcsydney
— Jamie McKinnell (@jamie86) March 22, 2021
Hayne, 33, pleaded not guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual assault that allegedly took place at the then 26-year-old woman’s home in Newcastle in 2018.
He was accused with “recklessly inflicting bodily harm” after allegedly leaving the woman bleeding from her genitals, but was ultimately cleared of these circumstances in the final verdict.
According to the victim, Hayne was “rough, forceful and inconsiderate” during the encounter, despite her allegedly telling him “no Jarryd.”
“I think I froze in a way, because I can’t remember a massive struggle; it was just really confusing. But he knew I didn’t want it – I said ‘no’,” the woman said.
“It was forceful and fast. That’s why I can’t say for sure how the [genital] injury was done, whether it was his mouth, his teeth, his nails or a ring. I was numb.”
This is the second time a jury had deliberated on the charges against Hayne after a hung jury were unable to reach a unanimous verdict in December 2020.
The news comes just days after judge Helen Syme told the jury not to rush in their decision-making.
“I acknowledge and accept you are making good progress,” Syme, said on Friday afternoon in response to a jury note. “As I said a couple of days ago, there is no rush.”
More to come.
Help is available.
If you require immediate assistance, please call 000.
If you’d like to speak to someone about sexual violence, please call the 1800 Respect hotline on 1800 737 732 or chat online.
Under 25? You can reach Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 or chat online.
