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Home / Sport

Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne to learn fate as sentencing day for rape of Newcastle woman arrives

By Lauren Ferri
NCA NewsWire·
11 May, 2023 08:53 PM4 mins to read

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After more than four years and three trials, NRL star Jarryd Hayne has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman on the grand final night in Newcastle. Video / ABC Australia
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D-Day has arrived for disgraced former NRL star and rapist Jarryd Hayne after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman at her Newcastle home on the night of the NRL grand final in 2018.

Judge Graham Turnbull SC will seal the fate of the 35-year-old, who will be seen in public for the first time during his sentence hearing, after he was sensationally taken into custody during a Supreme Court bail application on April 14.

But the Dally M winner requested to learn his fate via audiovisual link from Silverwater Remand Centre rather than being brought into court in person.

It is understood his wife Amellia Bonnici will also watch the proceedings online. She did not front court on Monday for the sentence hearing.

Judge Turnbull has previously told the court there is a high chance Hayne will be sentenced to a term of imprisonment over the sexual assault.

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After five years, three trials, an appeal and nine months in prison, Hayne was in April found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman at her Newcastle home in 2018.

It was the third time Hayne faced a trial over the same incident, and the second time he was found guilty.

While he claims the sexual encounter was entirely consensual, the jury accepted the woman’s version of events that she repeatedly said “no” and “stop”.

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Former NRL superstar Jarryd Hayne and his wife Amelia Bonnici pictured leaving court during his final trial. Photo / NCA Newswire
Former NRL superstar Jarryd Hayne and his wife Amelia Bonnici pictured leaving court during his final trial. Photo / NCA Newswire

The jury was told the woman refused to consent to sex because the ex-Parramatta fullback had a taxi waiting outside.

Hayne’s defence barrister, Margaret Cunneen SC, on Monday told the court the reason Bonnici chose not to attend proceedings as the publicity has had an “exceptional effect” on the family.

“I’m instructed she continues to support, it’s just been too much with the photographs taken of the children and herself,” the court heard.

“The media has been extremely negative about this and the social media has been appalling … the attacks were for Mr Hayne and to his wife.”

A victim impact statement was read to the court on behalf of the victim during the sentence hearing by Crown prosecutor John Sfinas.

The woman said her life has been a “never-ending nightmare” since September 30, 2018.

“I still don’t know how to put any of this into words,” the statement read.

“From the 30th of September 2018, my life has been launched into what feels like a never-ending nightmare.”

The woman said she was hoping to move on after the second trial, but said she hadn’t had the chance to “move on or feel peace”, reliving the trauma “over and over”.

“In September it will be five years since this has happened. I was a 26-year-old with the world at her feet, now I am nearly 31 and haven’t been able to finish uni,” the woman said.

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“I am stronger, I am wiser, but I am damaged and I won’t ever be the same person.”

Cunneen said the length of the offending was important in the context of the case and would affect the objective seriousness.

She told the court that there was “unambiguous and mutual sexual context” in the lead-up to Hayne raping the woman.

The court heard the act occurred between “two grown adults”, with the victim knowing “who Jarryd Hayne was” before “urging him to come over”.

Read More

  • Jarryd Hayne rape trial: Tapped phone calls revealed ...
  • Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne granted bail after rape ...
  • Ex-NRL star Jarryd Hayne found guilty in rape trial ...
  • Ex-NRL star rape conviction: Jarryd Hayne’s wife breaks ...

Cunneen told the court Hayne is a “very different man” to the person who committed the offences in 2018.

”He doesn’t possess the personality and thought patterns and sexual arousal patterns of a sex offender, and also because of his life which has turned around considerably since the hiatus in the relationship with his now wife,” Cunneen said.

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”There is an eloquent testament of Mr Hayne’s pastor of his commitment to his Christian faith.”

Crown prosecutor Sfinas rejected the submission made by the defence that communications between the victim and Hayne were unambiguous.

The court heard there “would have been a significant degree of fear engendered in the victim”.

“It was in her home, in her bedroom … it’s a significant aggravating factor,” Sfinas said.

“The complainant weighed 48kg while Mr Hayne weighed 104kg.”

Sfinas said there were fairly distinct phases of force leading the victim to say she was fearful after the offending occurred.

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Hayne will be sentenced at 10.30am Friday (AEST).

SEXUAL HARM


Where to get help:
If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7:
• Call 0800 044 334
• Text 4334
• Email support@safetotalk.nz
• For more info or to web chat visit safetotalk.nz
Alternatively contact your local police station - click here for a list.
If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it's not your fault.
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