Major development in Jarryd Hayne trial as jury reveals they can’t reach a unanimous verdict on rape charge
- Judge orders jury back to deliberations
Jurors in Jarryd Hayne’s trial over sexual assault allegations have been asked to push forward after 17 hours of deliberations failed to bring about an unanimous verdict.
NSW District Court Judge Graham Turnbull received a note that the jury was unable to agree on whether the former Parramatta winger was guilty or not guilty on Monday – but sent the jury back to continue their discussions.
‘Experience has shown … that juries can often agree if given more time to consider and discuss the issues,’ the judge said in declining to discharge the jury.
‘I ask you to persevere … Let’s see if you can reach a unanimous decision.’
Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne (pictured with wife Amelia last week) faces an anxious wait as jurors continue their deliberations
The jurors retired to consider their verdict on March 27 after a two-week trial where the 35-year-old rugby league player faced two counts of sexual intercourse without consent.
The former Eels player visited the woman’s suburban Newcastle home after a friend’s bucks party on NRL grand final night in 2018.
It’s alleged he pulled her jeans off and performed sex acts for about 30 seconds before she began to bleed.
The woman he is accused of assaulting cannot be identified for legal reasons. Her previously recorded evidence was played to the jury in closed court.
Jarryd Hayne (pictured March 23) is facing trial over the rape allegations which he has consistently denied
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