June 11th 2024.
Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne's legal team is fighting to overturn his conviction for rape, alleging that the victim purposely withheld crucial evidence. The NSW Court of Criminal Appeal is set to make a decision on the case today, specifically on whether Hayne was rightfully sentenced for raping a woman on the night of the 2018 NRL Grand Final. This has been a long and tumultuous legal battle for the 36-year-old, who has spent the past year in jail after being convicted of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent in April 2023. This conviction came after an initial guilty finding was overturned on appeal.
Throughout three separate criminal trials, it was revealed that the woman, who has remained anonymous for legal reasons, had initially consented to having sex with Hayne but changed her mind upon realizing he had a taxi waiting outside her house. Hayne's lawyer, Tim Game SC, argued in an appeal hearing that the woman had deleted messages between herself and Hayne that would have shown her initial interest in him. He claimed that this deliberate concealment of evidence was equivalent to lying or deception.
On the other hand, the Crown's representative, Georgina Wright SC, argued that the woman regularly deleted messages and was not selective about what she deleted in order to shape the narrative. Hayne's legal team also pointed out that the woman had allegedly told police, "If those messages get out, I'm f----- and he will get off," suggesting she had a motive to withhold evidence. However, Judge Graham Turnbull, who presided over Hayne's third trial, refused to allow the woman to be cross-examined on this statement, stating that it held little weight.
In their notice of appeal, Hayne's lawyers claimed that Judge Turnbull made an error in not compelling the victim to give further evidence, resulting in a miscarriage of justice. They also argued that the guilty verdicts were unreasonable and not supported by the evidence. It is worth noting that Hayne's conviction came after a hung jury in his first trial in 2020 and a successful appeal that overturned the guilty verdict from his second trial in 2021.
The legal battle continues for Hayne, who is determined to clear his name and overturn his conviction. In the midst of all this, he has also been dealing with other personal struggles, such as his son potentially facing sentencing just days before the election. In the meantime, the public can stay updated on the latest developments in this case, as well as breaking news, celebrity updates, and sports news, by following our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm, and no one can see your private details.
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