Content Warning: This article about Jarryd Hayne discusses sexual assault. If you or someone you know is affected by the following story, you are not alone. To speak to someone, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
Former professional rugby league player Jarryd Hayne has been found guilty of the sexual assault of a woman in 2018.
The 33-year-old former Parramatta Eels player was found guilty of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent.
He was found not guilty of the more serious charges of aggravated sexual intercourse without consent and recklessly inflicting actual bodily harm.
As reported by news.com.au, a jury of seven men and five women found Hayne guilty following three days of deliberation off the back of a seven-day trial.
Hayne pleaded not guilty and denied sexually assaulting the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, at her home near Newcastle in September 2018.
The pair had spoken on social media for several weeks leading up to the assault but met for the first time the night it happened.
During her evidence, the woman said Hayne had performed oral and digital sex without her consent.
According to news.com.au, the woman revealed that she had refused to consent to sex with Hayne because he had a taxi waiting outside her house.
The women said that she decided there was “no way” she was going to consent to sex once she realised there was a taxi outside.
“Like my heart dropped because I felt like he had only come there for one thing… like why would you get (the taxi driver) to wait outside for you for 20 minutes,” she said.
“I felt saddened because I felt like he must have only seen me in one type of way.”
She also said the presence of the taxi made her feel “like absolute crap” and “sad and stupid for flirting with him to start”.
“I felt like — excuse my French — absolute shit about him getting a taxi driver to wait outside for that amount of time because he’s coming over to have sex and leave,” she said.
“He doesn’t want to meet me or have a conversation.”
The woman said she was overpowered by Hayne, who ignored her attempts to stop him from assaulting her.
As reported by news.com.au, the woman suffered two lacerations from the assault and began bleeding about 30 seconds into it.
A video taken by the women, which was played to the jury, showed her bedding covered in blood.
Following the assault, the woman texted Hayne to tell him she was “hurting so much” and that she “didn’t want to do that after knowing the taxi was waiting for [him].”
In response, Hayne wrote: ‘Go doctor tomorrow.”
According to Judge Helen Syme, a custodial sentence is “inevitable” for Hayne, who is facing a maximum possible sentence of 14 years in jail.
Hayne, who is currently on bail, is due to face a sentencing hearing in Newcastle District Court on Thursday, May 6th.
Speaking to reporters following the verdict, Hayne insisted he “spoke the truth” when he denied the charges.
“I’d rather go to jail knowing I spoke the truth than be a free man living a lie,” he said.
“I’ve shown it from the start, It’s unfortunate, it’s disappointing. But at the end of the day, they’ve come to the decision. I respect that and I’m back on the 6th of May.”
