Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne, who is accused of attacking a woman in her bedroom, will face a retrial in Sydney on rape charges.
Prosecutor Brian Costello confirmed on Wednesday in the Newcastle district court that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions would pursue two rape charges against Hayne after his first trial in Newcastle ended in a hung jury.
The jury of eight men and four women was discharged on 7 December after a two-week trial when they failed to reach a verdict.
Judge Tim Gartelmann on Wednesday said if the trial went ahead in Newcastle, it wasn unlikely to be accommodated until late 2021 or early 2022.
The judge said the Newcastle courts’ diary had been impacted by Covid-19, causing delays.
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Costello indicated there was a possibility the trial could be heard earlier in Sydney.
The case was briefly adjourned to allow Costello and Hayne’s defence lawyer Penny Musgrave to discuss their options.
Both parties returned a short time later with Musgrave, who appeared via audio visual link from Sydney, telling the court she had spoken to the court listings manager who indicated Hayne’s two-week trial could start in Sydney on 8 March.
Costello said the application to move the trial to Sydney was not opposed given it would proceed much more expeditiously than if it returned to Newcastle.
The judge listed the case for a readiness hearing in Sydney on 29 January with the trial to begin on 8 March.
Hayne’s bail was continued until 29 January.
Hayne, 32, who was excused from appearing in court on Wednesday because he had legal representation, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of aggravated sexual assault recklessly inflicting actual bodily harm.