Jack de Belin finally takes the stand in rape trial to claim he asked alleged victim for a threesome before telling teammate co-accused 'I think we're on here'
- NRL star Jack de Belin has started giving evidence on stand in alleged rape trial
- He and Callan Sinclair pleaded not guilty to aggravated sexual assault of woman
- He met the complainant, then 19, on the dancefloor of a Wollongong bar in 2018
By
AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
PUBLISHED: 12:35 AEDT, 19 November 2020 | UPDATED: 14:36 AEDT, 19 November 2020
NRL and Origin star Jack de Belin has told a jury the woman accusing him of rape was 'very attention-seeking' on the dancefloor and flirting with his mate before he mentioned 'we're on here'.
Entering the witness box in the third week of the high-profile trial, the St George Illawarra forward said he met the complainant, then 19, on the dancefloor of Wollongong bar Mr Crown on December 8, 2018.
'She was kind of hanging around the group and then she gave me a cuddle,' de Belin said.
'I said something along the lines of 'aren't you a little cutie?' She just giggled back.
'She was very attention-seeking and her dancing was dramatic and over the top.'
Jack de Belin has started giving evidence in his alleged rape trial. He's pictured leaving Wollongong District Court on Wednesday
The 29-year-old and Shell Cove man Callan Sinclair, 23, have pleaded not guilty in Wollongong District Court to the aggravated sexual assault of the woman later that night in a North Wollongong unit.
After noticing the woman flirting with Sinclair on the dancefloor, de Belin pulled him aside and said words to the effect of 'I think we're on here'.
He then approached the woman and said: 'you, me and Cal?'
When she pointed out he had a girlfriend, de Belin said he replied: 'I can keep a secret if you can'
'At that point, she winked and smiled,' he told the jury.
Earlier in the trial, the woman told the jury sex was never raised with her during the night and she only entered the unit to use the bathroom.
While inside, she says the NRL star undressed her and forced himself on top of her as she said 'no'.
He then allegedly made way for Sinclair and moved his groin to the then-teenager's head, before the men alternated positions and cheered each other on.
Co-accused Callan Sinclair is pictured arriving at Wollongong District Court on Thursday
'I just had tears out of my eyes the whole time,' she said of the alleged early-morning assault on December 9.
Conversely, de Belin on Thursday said he asked the woman if she wanted to come back to the unit and she replied 'yes'.
When they got there, scaling a fence to get in, he said he took a shower and she used the bathroom.
When the footballer finished his shower, he re-entered the bedroom and found the woman and Sinclair kissing.
'I proceeded to start kissing (her) as well,' he said.
The men were 'complimenting her on her breasts' before she took her top off, the jury heard.
Shortly thereafter, de Belin began performing oral sex and recalled her uttering 'yes'.
'It was just natural sex that she was enjoying,' he said.
The trio changed positions several times during the sexual encounter, de Belin said.
Afterwards, the footballer said he overheard the woman again mentioning his girlfriend.
'I said 'don't stress it, babe, we're on the rocks anyway, it's complicated',' de Belin told the jury.
The trio later caught an Uber back to town.
De Belin said at no point did he believe the woman was not consenting and was 'just in complete and utter shock' when he learned of the allegations later that day.
The jury heard he remains with his long-term partner Alyce.
NRL star Jack de Belin arrives at Wollongong court
De Belin estimated his intoxication on the dancefloor at Mr Crown was '6 or 7' out of 10, having had about 11 drinks over as many hours.
The former Cootamundra paperboy detailed attending a Campbelltown boarding school on a mathematics scholarship before developing a particular liking for rugby league.
He broke into the St George team in 2011 before being drafted into NSW State of Origin camp in 2017 and playing all three games against the Maroons in 2018, the jury heard.
The court was told de Belin hasn't played first-grade rugby league in the past two seasons due to the allegations.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...inally-takes-stand-deny-raping-teen-girl.html
De Belin's evidence continues.
St George Illawarra NRL star Jack de Belin finally takes to the stand to deny raping a teen girl
