- Jarryd Hayne’s civil lawsuit is back in court
- Lawyers for former NRL star appeared in court again on Wednesday
- In June he walked free from prison after two years behind bars
Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne’s legal troubles aren’t over yet, despite successfully appealing his rape conviction. A civil case is now before the courts.
The former Parramatta Eels fullback was found guilty last year of two counts of sexually assaulting a woman without her consent at her Newcastle home on the night of the 2018 NRL finals.
The 36-year-old was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison, but was released in June 2024 after his convictions were overturned on appeal.
The first of three criminal trials on the charges ended in a jury unable to reach a verdict. Hayne successfully appealed the next two cases.
Although the New South Wales Public Prosecution Service has now ruled out a fourth trial and dropped the charges, Hayne’s legal worries are far from over.
Lawyers representing the former State of Origin star appeared in court again on Wednesday for a hearing on the guidelines in a long-running civil case.
Mr Hayne’s prosecutor first brought civil proceedings over the alleged assault in August 2021. The case was adjourned several times due to repeated criminal trials.
When lawyer Mary Keaney returned to the New South Wales Supreme Court, she requested an adjournment so the two parties could “consider an informal settlement conference”.
Jarryd Hayne’s legal troubles aren’t over yet, despite his rape convictions being quashed
Hayne’s long-running civil lawsuit returns to court in Sydney this week
A lawyer representing Mr Hayne agreed to the week-long adjournment, adding that the case was subject to “a number of adjournments due to other proceedings”.
Clerk Jennifer Hedge agreed to the postponement and told the court the case would resume on September 4. A date for the hearing will likely be set then.
Hayne was released from prison in June after serving two years.
Hayne was first charged with sexual abuse in 2018, which went to trial in late 2020. The case ended with a jury unable to reach a verdict.
In March 2021, a new trial began, in which the case was found guilty. However, less than a year later, in February 2022, this was successfully appealed.
The final trial began in May 2023 and resulted in a guilty verdict, which was later also overturned by the Court of Criminal Appeal.
Hayne has always maintained his innocence and has pleaded his innocence in court.