Sexual assault charges against former NRL superstar Jarryd Hayne have officially been dropped, a court has been told – but he still has a civil lawsuit hanging over his head.
Three days after the Director of Public Prosecutions announced they would not pursue a fourth trial against the former Parramatta and Gold Coast fullback, Hayne made a surprise appearance with his lawyers appeared in Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court on Friday.
Judge Craig Everson was told that the DPP had dropped two counts of sexual intercourse without consent.
Mr Hayne, 36, has consistently denied the allegations and has twice had his conviction overturned by the Court of Criminal Appeal.
He broke down in tears and said he ‘stayed true’ to himself as he thanked God and the people who’d supported him during the long legal saga over the alleged attack.
The former Parramatta Eels fullback also joked that he now looks more like a front rower after putting on weight in jail as he poured cold water on the possibility of returning to footy at age 36.
Hayne was released from prison earlier this month after having his convictions quashed.
He spent more than a year behind bars after a jury in April 2023 found him guilty of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent.
A very emotional Hayne made a surprise appearance at a Sydney court on Friday (pictured) as the sexual assault charges against him were officially dropped
The former Parramatta Eels star shed tears as he thanked God and his supporters before joking about how much his body has changed in jail as he cast doubt on the chances of him returning to footy after regaining his freedom
Six years of court battles and two stints in jail took their toll on the former State of Origin and Kangaroos star and he broke down as he fronted the media (pictured)
The Officer of the Director of Public Prosecutions on Tuesday confirmed in a statement he would not face a fourth trial.
‘Yeah, obviously excited,’ Mr Hayne said outside court, looking relieved as he exited alongside his barrister Margaret Cunneen SC and solicitor Lauren MacDougall.
‘I stayed true to myself the whole time, the whole process. Today is a vindication for myself and my family and my loved ones.
‘I want to say thank you to all those that supported me from day one, stood by me and stood next to me.
‘It’s been a rollercoaster. The boys on the inside that stood by me, mates on the outside and everyone that stood shoulder to shoulder with me, I appreciate that.
The 36-year-old (pictured outside court on Friday) said the dropping of the charges was ‘a vindication for myself and my family and my loved ones’
‘Thinking about everyone that prayed for me, I thank God for keeping me safe, not only myself but my wife as well, what she had to go through.
‘It’s been tough. I’m just thankful today for all the support.’
At one point Mr Hayne stopped as he appeared to become emotional and lost for words.
Asked if he would return to football, he laughed and said, ‘I look like a front-rower.’
‘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 DPP said during the hearing.
The two-time Dally M winner and NFL convert has consistently denied the allegations and claimed the sexual encounter, inside the woman’s Newcastle home on NRL grand final night in 2018, was entirely consensual
His first trial in 2021 resulted in a hung jury and following a second trial he was found guilty, however the verdict was quashed on appeal.
Hayne’s wife Amellia Bonnici joined him to witness the end of his legal battle against the criminal charges (pictured)
Hayne (pictured being released from jail earlier this month) spent more than a year behind bars after a jury found him guilty in a verdict that has since been overturned on appeal
The fullback’s glittering footy career (pictured playing for Parramatta in 2013) now appears to be over despite him winning his freedom
Following a third trial, a jury accepted the woman’s version of events that she repeatedly said ‘no’ and ‘stop’.
However, the state’s highest court quashed Mr Hayne’s conviction after it ruled the trial judge erred by not allowing further examination of the complainant.
The appeal was upheld in a 2-1 majority decision by the Court of Criminal Appeal.
In her portion of the judgment, Justice Deborah Sweeney said the guilty verdicts were unreasonable and said she was ‘of the view there is a significant possibility that an innocent person has been convicted’.
Hayne is still facing a civil lawsuit from his accuser, who is suing him for an undisclosed amount over the alleged attack.
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