Disgraced footballer Jarryd Hayne’s lawyer attacks rape victim’s ‘embarrassingly hopeless’ attempt to sue him for damages – after he was jailed for almost six years
- Hayne's lawyer has labelled his rape victim's civil case against him 'hopeless'
- Victim is claiming damages for battery and assault in the NSW Supreme Court
- Lawyer said on Wednesday the case gave no explanation for those two claims
- Hayne was in March convicted of sexually assaulting women in her bedroom
Jarryd Hayne's rape victim has filed an 'embarrassingly hopeless' case against the jailed former NRL star, his lawyer has told a court.
The victim, a woman aged in her late 20s, is claiming damages for battery and assault in the NSW Supreme Court, after the disgraced ex-NRL star was convicted of sexual assault in March.
Hayne, 33, was sentenced to five years and nine months in jail after the incident on NRL Grand Final night in 2018 in which a jury found he overpowered and attacked the young woman, biting her so hard he drew blood.
He is appealing that conviction.
Hayne did not appear at a NSW Supreme Court directions hearing on Wednesday regarding the civil suit but his lawyer attacked the quality of the woman's claim.
Disgraced NRL star Jarryd Hayne (pictured with wife Amelia) is serving a minimum sentence of three years and eight months but wants to appeal his conviction. His lawyer has told a court victim has filed an 'embarrassingly hopeless' civil case against him
David Baran said the case pleads out a re-enactment of what was alleged in the criminal trial and had a 'whole multitude' of issues.
Those include no explanation for the torts of battery and assault and no detailing of a claim for aggravated damages.
'The entire pleading is embarrassingly hopeless,' he said.
Efforts to rectify the issues last week have gone unanswered, the court was told.
Regardless, the case would be impacted by Hayne's criminal appeal hearing in November, when he seeks to again agitate a defence of consent.
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'If the Court of Criminal Appeal overturns it, a number of dimensions of this case change,' Mr Baran said.
Gerard Gooden, representing the woman, also expressed frustrations with the other side, including getting no 'sensible response' about proposed suppression orders.
As a sexual assault victim, the woman's identity is suppressed by law but Mr Gooden has proposed having the court suppress identities of all parties, including Hayne.
Mr Baran said the fact of Hayne's convictions couldn't be used as a fact of the case.
Hayne pictured outside Newcastle Court in December. The victim, a woman aged in her late 20s, is claiming damages for battery and assault in the NSW Supreme Court
He suggested if it wasn't removed, Hayne would ask the court to set aside such references, as part of a broader strike out application.
But Mr Gooden said the convictions weren't 'proof of the facts but they are relevant'.
'In regard to the pleading, if my friend wishes to agitate that matter, he can put on his motion,' he told the court.
'We don't accept what he's saying.'
Registrar Karen Jones agreed to adjourn the civil case until February 2 to permit the conviction appeal to be finalised.
A judge is also due to consider the suppression order application in coming days.
A Sydney jury in March found Hayne had - beyond reasonable doubt - sexually assaulted the woman in her bedroom the night of the 2018 NRL Grand Final.
Hayne pictured with wife Amellia Bonnici. He was sentenced to a non-parole-period of three years and eight months
In sentencing the 33-year-old to a non-parole-period of three years and eight months, District Court Judge Helen Syme said the victim's honesty had been tested at length during Hayne's trial but the jury and the judge believed her, not Hayne.
'She (the victim) has every right to feel safe from attack in the privacy of her home,' the judge said.
'I do not accept the offender did not know or did not hear the victim telling him she did not want to have sex with him.'
TIMELINE TO JARRYD HAYNE'S FOOTBALL DOWNFALL
Hayne, who has always maintained his innocence, has already filed a notice of intention to appeal his sentence for following his rape conviction
1988: Jarryd Hayne is born in Sydney, the son of Manoa Thompson and Jodie Hayne.
1994: Hayne begins playing junior rugby league in western Sydney.
2006: Hayne makes his NRL debut for the Parramatta Eels aged 18 against the Penrith Panthers.
2007: The speedster makes his representative debut for New South Wales and Australia.
2008: He signs a $2million extension with Parramatta.
2008: Hayne was shot by a bikie gang member during a night out in Sydney's Kings Cross, an event he said was a turning point in his life.
2008: After missing out on a place in the Kangaroos World Cup squad he plays for Fiji, later turning to religion.
2009: The star fullback leads the Eels to the NRL Grand Final and wins his first Dally M Medal.
2014: Hayne wins a second Dally M Medal and leads the NRL in tries scored.
2014: He announces his departure from rugby league to attempt a career in the NFL.
2015: Hayne signs a three-year contract for US$1.58million with the San Francisco 49ers.
2015: Hayne is accused of raping a virgin during a night out in San Jose, California - an allegation Hayne denies.
2016: He retires from the NFL and joins the Fiji rugby sevens team in the hopes of making the 2016 Rio Olympics.
2016: Hayne returns to the NRL signing with the Gold Coast Titans on a million-dollar contract.
2018: He signs with the Parramatta Eels on a cheaper-than-usual contract.
2018: Hayne is charged with aggravated sexual assault relating to an alleged incident on Grand Final night in the Hunter region.
2021: The footy star is found guilty of rape in Newcastle District Court and sentenced to a minimum term of three years and eight months behind bars.
Hayne is then sued by the young woman he was convicted of raping.
The woman aged in her late 20s is claiming damages for battery and assault in the NSW Supreme Court
