Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne has been found guilty of sexual assault, following an incident in Newcastle in 2018.
The 33-year old had been in trial over the past few weeks in Sydney District Court, after his earlier hearing ended in a hung jury.
#BREAKING Fmr NRL star Jarryd #Hayne found GUILTY of sexually assaulting a woman in #Newcastle. @9NewsSyd pic.twitter.com/ycah5m7Qnc
— Kelly Fedor (@KellyFedor) March 22, 2021
The jury found Hayne guilty of two counts of sexual assault, without the circumstances of aggravation (recklessly inflicting actual bodily harm).
— Jamie McKinnell (@jamie86) March 22, 2021
#BREAKING Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne has been found guilty of the sexual assault of a woman near Newcastle in 2018 after a second trial. @7NewsSydney pic.twitter.com/CbHjEIZLrr
— Leonie Ryan (@LeonieFRyan) March 22, 2021
Hayne was found not guilty on a separate charge of aggravated sexual assault while recklessly inflicting actual bodily harm.
The sentencing hearing for the former Eels fullback will take place on May 6th, with the court granting Hayne bail at $50,000 surety.
#Hayne's sentence hearing will be on May 6. They're now discussing whether his bail will continue until then given the inevitability of a jail term. @9NewsSyd
— Kelly Fedor (@KellyFedor) March 22, 2021
He is facing up to 14 years in prison.
Speaking after the verdict, Hayne spoke to the media briefly about the hearing.
“I’d rather go to jail knowing I spoke the truth, than be a free man living a lie," he said.
"I was straight up from the start.
"It’s unfortunate, it’s disappointing but at the end of the day, if that’s what they’ve come to the decision, I respect that.
"I’m back on the 6th of May I think."
Hayne played 214 NRL games across stints with the Eels and Titans, but hasn't played since 2018.
