- Dragons star and co-defendant faced two trials
- Both trials ended in hung juries
- Shawn Adams has been charged with perjury
A former NSW police officer charged with perjury over evidence he gave during NRL star Jack De Belin’s sexual assault legal proceedings was given bail conditions when his matter was heard in court for the first time.
Former lead detective Shawn Adams was charged with perjury in relation to Mr de Belin’s case in the Wollongong District Court in February 2020.
In mid-2021, the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew sexual assault charges against De Belin and his co-accused Callan Sinclair following two District Court trials that ended in hung juries.
Both consistently maintained that they were innocent of all allegations and had pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Dragons star Jack De Belin (pictured outside court in 2021) faced two rape trials, both of which ended in hung juries.
The Director of Public Prosecutions dropped sexual assault charges against De Belin and his co-accused, Callan Sinclair (pictured outside court)
They were found not guilty of one count of sexual assault after their second trial, but the jury was unable to reach a decision on the remaining charges before the Attorney General’s Office decided not to proceed with a third trial.
In 2021, the New South Wales Police Professional Standards Command launched an investigation under the umbrella of Strike Force Ephemeris to investigate the conduct of officers in the case.
NSW Police said that after receiving advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions, Adams was charged with giving false evidence under oath amounting to perjury.
Former Detective Senior Constable Shawn Adams has been charged with perjury for his conduct while investigating the allegation that De Belin (pictured with partner Alyce Taylor) raped a 19-year-old Wollongong woman in 2018.
The St George Illawarra star (pictured) has been banned from playing in the NRL as a result of the charges against him.
Adams, 48, was not at Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday as the matter was mentioned for the first time.
The prosecution requested that bail conditions be imposed due to flight risk.
“These are very serious allegations and, to be sure, there should be something to mitigate the risk of flight,” said magistrate Claire Girotto.
Ms Girotto imposed bail conditions, including that Mr Adams only live at one address in Wilton, southwest of Sydney, and that he stay away from a starting point.
He will return to court in August.
