Hayne fronts Newcastle court
FORMER National
Rugby League star
Jarryd Hayne appeared in court this week after he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman at her home in a Newcastle suburb, inflicting an injury on her, while he was in the region for a bucks party two years ago, a jury has been told.
Hayne, 32, arrived at Newcastle District
Court on Monday ready to face trial on two charges of aggravated sexual intercourse without consent, recklessly inflicting actual bodily harm. He has pleaded not guilty. However, the day was mostly consumed by procedural legal issues, with prosecutor Brian Costello and Hayne's barrister Phillip Boulten, SC, expected to make opening statements to the jury on Tuesday morning.
On Monday, the jury panel was told the trial would involve an allegation that Hayne assaulted a woman at Fletcher, a suburb on the western outskirts of Newcastle, on September 30, 2018.
It will be alleged the incident took place in the bedroom of the woman's home, coincidentally on the day of the NRL grand final that year. The jury was told the background to Hayne being in Newcastle on grand final weekend was to attend a two-day bucks party for another rugby league player, Fijian international Kevin Naiqama.
Mr Hayne's trial is expected to last for two weeks. A list of names of people expected to be mentioned in the trial was read out on Monday, including the woman who was allegedly assaulted, several of her friends and relatives, two doctors, a taxi driver, several police officers and some high-profile international Fijian rugby league players.