Sunday, December 22, 2024

Jarryd Hayne photographed for first time as a free man after rape conviction overturned

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Jarryd Hayne has been pictured as a free man two weeks after he walked out of prison after his rape convictions were overturned on appeal.

While the NRL star walked free, he still faced the prospect of a fourth trial over the incident that took place in 2018.

He had been ordered to live with his wife, surrender a surety of $20,000, and not contact the complainant as he waited to learn if he would face a fourth trial over rape allegations.

On Tuesday, it was confirmed the 36-year-old would not face another trial.

A day later he was photographed for the first time outside of his home in Parramatta.

Wearing a cream hoodie and Nike sweatpants, Hayne leaves the house before getting into a car and driving off.

Hayne photographed for the first time as a free man.Source: Matrix Media Group
Hayne won’t face a fourth trial.Source: Matrix Media Group
Hayne leaving his Parramatta home for the first time since learning he will not be prosecuted for a fourth time over allegations of sexual assault.Source: Matrix Media Group

Hayne spent more than a year behind bars after a jury found him guilty in April 2023 of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent.

The Officer of the Director of Public Prosecutions confirmed on Tuesday he will not be facing a fourth trial.

“Having carefully considered the many competing factors that inform the assessment of the public interest in this case, the ODPP has determined not to proceed to a fourth trial against Mr Hayne,” the statement reads.

“The decision was made in accordance with the Prosecution Guidelines.

“As the reasons for the decision are legally privileged, they will not be disclosed and the ODPP will not comment further.”

Mr Hayne was due to return to court on July 26, where the ODPP was going to reveal whether it would be going ahead with the retrial.

He has always denied the allegations.

Hayne walks free from the Mary Wade Correctional Centre in Lidcombe after winning his appeal against a sexual assault conviction. Picture: NewsWire / John AppleyardSource: News Corp Australia

Hayne’s life has suffered a remarkable fall from grace with the two-time Dally M winner used to being a household name, beginning his first-grade career with the Parramatta Eels in 2006.

Throughout his career, Hayne represented NSW in State of Origin 23 times while also playing 21 times for Australia and Fiji in Test matches.

During his time behind bars, Hayne learnt how to use a sewing machine and was put to work in the prison’s textile workshop before he was moved to the laundry room.

Hayne was earning $48.96 a week to wash his fellow inmates’ sheets over 42 hours a week – a vast fall from the $1.2m he made playing for the Gold Coast Titans.

He has faced three trials into allegations he sexually assaulted a woman at a Newcastle home on the night of the 2018 NRL Grand Final.

The first trial in 2021 resulted in a hung jury and thus not able to reach a verdict; the subsequent trial in 2021 found him guilty, but the verdict was overturned.

He’s now a free man with no chance of a fourth trial taking place into the incident.

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