De Belin acquitted on one charge but could face third trial
Jack de Belin has been found not guilty of one charge of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman he met at a Wollongong nightclub, with a jury discharged after it was unable to reach a verdict on the remaining charges against him.
De Belin, who plays for NRL club St George Illawarra, and Callan Sinclair, who plays for the Shellharbour Sharks, faced a 21⁄2-week trial in the NSW District Court accused of raping a crying woman in the bedroom of de Belin’s cousin, who wasn’t home, in the early hours of December 9, 2018.
Both pleaded not guilty to five counts each of aggravated sexual assault, maintaining their encounter with the woman was a consensual threesome. It was the second trial they faced on the charges, after a trial last year ended in a hung jury.
Yesterday, after five days of deliberations, a jury of eight men and four women found de Belin and Sinclair not guilty of one charge each, relating to one sexual act allegedly performed by de Belin. The Crown had alleged
Sinclair was also liable for this act because he was taking part in a joint criminal enterprise.
The jury was discharged after they were unable to reach a unanimous or majority verdict on the remaining charges, which related to other sexual acts allegedly performed by the men.
‘‘Each juror is firm and resolute in their verdict,’’ the jurors wrote in a note.
Judge Nicole Noman stood the case over to May 28 for the prosecution to consider its position, noting that there is ‘‘still no resolution’’.
‘‘[It is] still a pending matter, and there is still a prospect of a further trial,’’ Judge Noman said.
The men hugged and shook hands after the not guilty verdict was delivered. They said nothing when they left court shortly afterwards with a large number of supporters.
Despite the hung jury, the Dragons have released a short statement confirming de Belin remains subject to the NRL’s nofault stand down policy.
‘‘The next steps concerning all facets of matter are yet to be established.
‘‘The Dragons will continue to provide the necessary welfare support to de Belin and his family.
As this remains a legal matter, the club will make no further comment at this time,’’ the statement read.