Jarryd Hayne gets at least three years in prison because he makes an extraordinary outburst in court and the judge sentences him for raping a young woman: ‘Won’t be remembered for sport’
- Hayne found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman
- Prison sentence of up to four years and nine months
Jarryd Hayne has been sentenced to at least three years in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman five years ago.
The disgraced footballer was found guilty in April of two counts of sexual intercourse against the woman, then aged 26, at her home in Newcastle on the night of the NRL grand final in September 2018.
The father-of-three who appeared in his prison green via video link shouted ‘f**king three years bro!’ after the verdict was handed down Friday at Downing Center Court in Sydney.
It was the third time Hayne, 35, had been tried for the same incident and the second time he had been found guilty.
He had previously served nine months in prison before his conviction was overturned on appeal in February 2022.
Judge Graham Turnbull SC took almost two hours to pronounce the sentence.
A total sentence of four years and nine months was imposed, but it was retroactive to July 2, 2022 to account for the previous nine months Hayne had spent in custody.
He was given a non-parole three years, but if he counts time already served, he could be released on May 6, 2025.
The disgraced footballer (pictured with wife Amellia Bonnici) was found guilty of two counts of unauthorized sexual intercourse in April
Hayne’s wife Amellia Bonnici did not appear in court, but followed the proceedings online.
An apparent follower of Hayne logged into the online procedure with the username “love you brovy.”
Hayne is now correctly classified as an inmate in need of protection and will be moved to a more accommodating facility where he will be around other high profile inmates.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Turnbull noted that the athlete fell out of favor after debuting in the NRL at just 18 years old.
“He will not be remembered for his sporting achievements,” he said.
Hayne has maintained his innocence throughout the court proceedings, claiming that the sexual encounter was entirely consensual.
A total sentence of four years and nine months was handed down, but was retroactive to July 2, 2022 to account for the previous nine months Hayne had spent in custody
But the jury accepted the woman’s version of events that she repeatedly said “no” and “stop,” reaching a guilty verdict after 10 p.m. on April 4.
The jury was told the woman refused to consent to sex because Parramatta’s ex-fullback had a taxi waiting outside her home.
The court heard that Hayne had oral and digital sex with the woman without her consent for about 30 seconds until she started bleeding.
During the criminal hearing, a victim impact statement was read to the court by Crown Prosecutor John Sfinas on behalf of the victim.
The woman said her life has been a “never-ending nightmare” since September 30, 2018.
“I still don’t know how to put this into words,” the statement read.
“From September 30, 2018, my life launched into what feels like a never-ending nightmare.”
The woman said she hoped to move on after the second trial, but said she hadn’t had a chance to “move on or feel peace” and “relieve the trauma over and over again.”
‘In September it will be five years since this happened. I was a 26-year-old with the world at her feet, now I’m almost 31 and haven’t been able to finish university,” the woman said.
“I’m stronger, I’m wiser, but I’m damaged and I’ll never be the same person again.”
More to come
